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METAPHOR  AND   COMPARISON 

IN   THE 

EPISTULAE  AD  LUCILIUM 

OF 

L.  ANNAEUS  SENECA 

BY 

CHARLES   SIDNEY   SMITH 


SUBMITTED   TO    THE  BOARD  OP    UNIVKESITY    STUDIES  OF    THE  JOHNS    HOPKINS  UNIVERSITY 

IN  CONFORMITY  WITH  THE  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  THE   DEGREK 

OF  DOCTOR  OF  PHILOSOPHY 

MAY    8.    1906 


BALTIMORE 

J.   H.   FURST    COMPANY 
1910 


PREFATORY   NOTE 


The  delay  in  publishing  this  dissertation  has  been  due  partly  to 
pressure  of  other  duties,  and  partly  to  the  desire  to  await  the 
completion  of  the  seventh  edition  of  the  "  Antibarbarus,"  in  order 
that  references  to  that  work  might  be  corrected  in  conformity 
with  the  latest  edition.  I  regret  that  unexpected  difficulty  and 
delay  in  obtaining  a  copy  of  D.  STEYNS'  "  £tude  sur  les  me*ta- 
phores  et  les  comparaisons  dans  les  oeuvres  en  prose  de  Se"neque  le 
Philosophe,"  Gand,  1906,  prevented  me  from  being  able  to  make 
use  of  it  before  my  manuscript  was  practically  ready  for  the 
printer ;  and  I  am,  therefore,  obliged  to  content  myself  with  a 
commendatory  notice  in  this  place. 

September  4,  1909.  C.  S.  S. 


210039 


ERRATA. 

On  page  5,  line  13,  for  "  dea  ",  read  der. 

line  22,  for  "1828",  read  1832. 
On  page  181,  line  5,  for  "45",  read  46. 

for  "133",  read  135. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


Inasmuch  as  the  present  discussion  is  concerned  rather  with 
what  Seneca  himself  said  than  with  what  has  been  said  about  him, 
it  is  not  necessary  to  include  here  the  somewhat  extensive  bibliog- 
raphy on  the  latter  subject  which  was  originally  prepared  in 
connection  with  the  dissertation.  I  shall,  therefore,  only  mention 
a  few  of  the  works  which  I  have  found  especially  helpful  for  my 
present  purpose,  namely :  A.  BIESE,  "  Die  Entwicklung  des 
Naturgefiihls  bei  den  Romern,"  Kiel,  1884  (pages  127-136  on 
Seneca);  A.  GERCKE,  " Seneca-Studien,"  Jbb.  f.  class.  Phil., 
Supplb.  xxn  (1895),  1.  Heft;  K.  F.  H.  MARX,  " Uebersichtliche 
Anordnung  der  die  Medizin  betreffenden  Ausspriiche  des  Philo- 
sophen  L.  Ann.  Seneca,"  22.  Bd.,  Abhandl.  d.  kon.  Gesellsch. 
des  Wiss.  zu  Gottingen,  1877;  F.  I.  MERCHANT,  "Seneca  the 
Philosopher  and  his  Theory  of  Style,"  A.  J.  P.  xxvi  (1905),  p. 
44  ff. ;  H.  A.  MUNRO,  "Virgil  and  Seneca,"  E.  J.  P.  n  (1869), 
pp.  144-146  ;  and  H.  WIRTH,  "  De  Vergilii  apud  Senecam  philos. 
usu,"  Dissert.,  Freiburg,  1900.  The  text  of  the  "Epistulae 
Morales  "  which  has  been  used  in  collecting  the  examples  is  that 
of  O.  HENSE,  Leipzig,  1898  (Teubner) ;  and  I  follow  his  readings 
throughout,  except  as  indicated  in  individual  cases.  Occasional 
reference  is  made  to  the  translations  of  Seneca  by  A.  PAULY  and 
A.  HAAKH  (Stuttgart,  1828-1851)  and  J.  BAILLARD  (Paris, 
1905). 

Any  study  of  metaphor  and  simile  among  the  ancients  must,  of 
course,  be  under  obligation  to  G.  GERBER,  "  Sprache  als  Kunst," 
2.  Aufl.,  Berlin,  1885,  n,  p.  72  ff. ;  K.  F.  VON  NAGELSBACH, 
"  Lateinische  Stilistik,"  8.  Aufl.  besorgt  von  I.  MULLER,  Nurn- 
berg,  1888,  p.  502  ff. ;  and  R.  VOLKMANN,  "Die  Rhetorik  der 
Griechen  und  Romer,"  2.  Aufl.,  Leipzig,  1885,  p.  415  ff.  Of 
great  value,  also,  is  the  discussion  of  the  style  of  Seneca  by  E. 
JSToRDEN,  "Die  antike  Kunstprosa,"  Leipzig,  1898,  i,  pp.  306- 
313 ;  and  the  articles  on  individual  words  in  J.  Ph.  KREBS, 
"  Antibarbarus  der  lateinischen  Sprache,"  7.  Aufl.  by  J.  H. 
SCHMALZ,  Basel,  1905-1907. 

5 


6  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

The  bibliography  for  metaphor  which  is  given  by  W.  PECZ,  on 
pp.  vii— xn  of  his  "  Beitrage  zur  vergleichenden  Tropik  der 
Poesie,"  in  Berliner  Studien  in  (1886),  is  practically  complete  up 
to  that  date ;  and  as  this  has  been  supplemented  by  the  lists  in 
H.  L.  WILSON,  "  The  Metaphor  in  the  Epic  Poems  of  Statius  " 
(Baltimore,  1898)  and  G.  O.  BERG,  "Metaphor  and  Comparison 
in  the  Dialogues  of  Plato "  (Johns  Hopkins  Dissert.,  1903; 
publ.  Berlin,  1904),  it  is  sufficient  for  me  merely  to  add  a  few 
recent  titles,  viz.  :  W.  W.  BADEN,  "  The  Principal  Figures  of 
Language  and  Figures  of  Thought  in  Isaeus  and  the  Guardianship 
Speeches  of  Demosthenes,"  Johns  Hopkins  Dissert.,  Baltimore, 
1906  ;  W.  BARCZAT,  "De  figurarum  disciplina  atque  auctoribus  ; 
Pars  I,  Auctores  Graeci,"  Gottingen,  1904;  R.  FENGER,  "De 
metonymiae  in  epigrammatis  Martialis  usu,"  Dissert.,  Jena, 
1906;  E.  LINDSKOG,  "In  tropos  scriptorum  Latinorum  studia," 
Commentt.  Acad.,  Upsala,  1903  ;  R.  M.  MEYER,  "  Das  Gleichnis," 
Jbb.  xi  (1908),  1.  Heft,  pp.  63-72 ;  J.  PENNDORF,  "De  sermone 
figurato  quaestio  rhetorica,"  Leipz.  Studd.,  20.  Bd.  (1903);  R. 
S.  RADFORD,  "  Personification  and  the  Use  of  Abstract  Subjects  in 
the  Attic  Orators  and  Thukydides,"  Part  I  (Johns  Hopkins 
Dissert,),  Baltimore,  1901  ;  and  L.  VAN  HOOK,  "The  Metaphori- 
cal Terminology  of  Greek  Rhetorical  and  Literary  Criticism," 
Dissert.,  Univ.  of  Chicago  Press,  1905.  For  an  interesting 
discussion  of  the  troublesome  subject  of  the  development  and 
grouping  of  Figures  of  Speech,  see  H.  E.  GREENE  in  Publications 
of  the  Modern  Lang.  Assoc.  of  America,  Vol.  vm  (New  Series, 
Vol.  i),  Baltimore,  1893,  p.  432  ff.  A  short  but  suggestive 
article  on  "  The  Force  of  Metaphor"  is  to  be  found  on  p.  397  of 
Scribner's  Magazine  for  March,  1903. 

For  convenience  of  reference,  I  shall  indicate  DE-ViT7s  edition 
of  FORCELLINI'S  "  Lexicon  totius  Latinitatis  "  by  F-DV. ;  HAR- 
PERS' "  Latin  Dictionary,"  edited  by  C.  T.  LEWIS  and  C.  SHORT, 
by  H.  Lex. ;  a  combination  of  these  two  by  Lexx. ;  the  seventh 
edition  of  the  "  Antibarbarus "  by  Antib.7;  and  A.  OTTO'S  "Die 
Sprichworter  und  sprichwortlichen  Redensarten  der  Romer" 
(Leipzig,  1890)  by  Otto,  "Sprichworter." 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS 


The  prominent  position  which  L.  Annaeus  Seneca  occupies  in 
the  history  of  Latin  literature  is  so  well  known  that  it  hardly 
requires  any  discussion  here.  In  sect.  287  of  WARR'S  edition  of 
TEUFFEL'S  "History  of  Roman  Literature7'  he  is  described  as 
"  the  most  brilliant  figure  "  of  his  time,  "  in  point  of  literary  skill 
.  .  .  only  comparable  with  Ovid,  to  whom  he  was  vastly  superior  in 
intellect ; "  in  sect.  288  it  is  said  that  "  Seneca  is  as  a  writer  also  a 
faithful  image  of  his  period  .  .  . ;  he  purposely  wrote  in  harmony 
with  the  prevailing  taste  and  successfully  courted  the  applause  of 
his  contemporaries;"  and  sect.  289  remarks  that  "the  estimation 
in  which  the  writings  of  Seneca  were  held  caused  them  to  be 
frequently  copied  and  abridged."  H.  M.  KINGERY,  on  pp.  18-19 
of  the  Introduction  to  his  edition  of  "The  Medea  of  Seneca" 
(Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  1900)  affirms  that  no  study  of  the  literature 
of  Rome  can  afford  to  leave  Seneca  out  of  account,  and  that,  by 
developing  the  tendencies  already  started  by  Ovid,  he  became  the 
creator  of  a  new  school  of  rhetoric.  D.  COMPARETTI,  "  Vergil  in 
the  Middle  Ages"  (Engl.  Transl.,  K  Y.,  1896),  p.  36,  charac- 
terizes him  as  "  Seneca,  who  strove  to  wed  the  worst  extravagances 
of  rhetoric  with  philosophy,  and  yet,  in  spite  of  all  his  failings, 
startles  us  with  his  genius."  H.  RIEGER,  "  Observationes  Annae- 
anae"  (Freiburg,  1889)  declares  (p.  5)  that  'the  history  of  the 
Latin  language  cannot  be  completed  until  the  language  of  the 
most  flourishing  author  of  Silver  Latinity  has  been  so  thoroughly 
examined  that  a  certain  judgment  can  be  passed  upon  it;'  and 
M.  ZIMMERMANN,  "  De  Tacito  Senecae  philosophi  imitatore " 
(Bresl.  philol.  Abh.,  V.  Band,  1.  Heft,  1889)  says  (p.  2):  "Is 
autem,  qui  inter  auctores  argenteae  latin itatis  principem  tenet 
locum  ...  L.  Annaeus  Seneca,  quo  nemo  fere  scriptorum 
Romanorum  maiorem  stili  splendorem  adsecutus  est.  Patris 
enim  vestigiis  insistens  flumen  verborum  et  volubilitatem,  quam 
Ciceroniana  oratio  adfectaverat,  distinctis  et  interpunctis  inter- 

7 


8  Metaphor  and   Comparison  in  Seneca 

vallis  ita  inhibuit,  ut  singulis  colis  morae  atque  respiratione 
intercederent,  et  quo  magis  singula  cola  coartabantur,  eo  magis 
clausula  concisomm  et  initium  emicabat,  cum  praesertirn  numeri 
oratorii  et  verborum  collocationis  maximam  rationem  haberet. 
Sed  non  solum  brevitati  sententiarum  homo  Cordubensis  operam 
dabat,  verum  etiam,  quoniam  et  ipse  poeta  erat,  poetico  solutae 
orationis  colori,  quo  in  genere  maxime  audacissimas  translationes 
usurpat.  Quantum  id  dicendi  genus,  quod  L.  Annaeus  Seneca 
excolebat,  habuerit  momentum,  inde  elucet,  quod  non  solum 
aequalium  eius,  verum  etiam  historicorum  Komanorum  prae- 
clarissimi,  Cornelii  Taciti  aures  ita  adfecit,  ut  is  in  eloqueudo 
Senecae  stilo  accederet."  In  the  course  of  his  valuable  and 
suggestive  characterization  of  the  style  of  Seneca,  in  the  first 
volume  of  "  Die  antike  Kunstprosa,"  Eduard  Norden  says  (p. 
306) :  "  Seneca  gait  der  Nachwelt  gewissermassen  als  der  lit- 
terarische  Repriisentant  der  ersten  Kaiserzeit,"  adding  that,  in 
the  Middle  Ages,  he  was  better  known  than  even  Cicero,  and 
that  he  "hat  von  jeher  die  Augen  der  Menschen  auf  sich  ge- 
zogen  :  Hass  und  Liebe,  bittere  und  milde  Beurteilung  sind 
keinem  anderen  Menschen  und  Schriftsteller  des  Altertums  in 
gleichem  Masse  zuteil  geworden."  On  p.  307,  Norden  con- 
tinues: "Sein  Stil  war  die  cause  celebre  fiir  die  archaistischen 
Kritiker  von  Trajan  bis  zu  den  Antoninen.  .  .  .  Der  Grund  fiir 
die  Erbitterung  und  fiir  eine  solche  Erbitterung  ist  klar  :  im 
Kampf  der  Parteien,  der  in  der  traianischen  Zeit,  nachdem  er 
lange  unter  der  Asche  geglimmert  hatte,  emporflammte,  in  diesem 
Kampf  .  .  .  hielt  die  Partei  der  Modernen  das  Banner  hoch,  auf 
dem  der  Name  Senecas  leuchtete,  wahrend  die  reaktioniire  Partei 
dies  Banner  herabreissen  und  ein  anderes  mit  Cicero  als  Devise 
aufpflanzen  wollte;"  and  again,  on  p.  312,  he  expresses  the 
opinion  that,  in  spite  of  his  faults,  Seneca  is  to  be  regarded  as, 
next  to  Tacitus,  the  best  representative  of  the  "  Modern  Style." 
Compare  also,  A.  Gercke,  "  Seneca-Studien "  (p.  133  ff.),  who 
mentions  Pliny,  Tacitus  and  Juvenal  among  the  imitators  of 
Seneca,  and  whose  statement  concerning  the  unfriendly  attitude 
assumed  toward  him  by  the  professional  rhetoricians  is  proved  by 


Introductory  Remarks  9 

such  passages  as  Quint.  10,  1,  126f. ;  Fronto,  p.  155  f.  Naber; 
and  Gell.  N.  A.  12,  2,  1  f.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  Colu- 
mella's  description  of  him  (De  R.  R.  in,  Chap.  3)  as  "excellens" 
and  Pliny's  (N.  H.  14,  51),  as  "principe  turn  eruditionis  ac  poten- 
tiae."  Tacitus,  A.  13,  3,  says  that  he  had  "  ingenium  amoenum 
et  temporis  eius  auribus  adcommodatum,"  and  even  Quintilian 
(1.  c.,  sect.  128)  makes  the  admission  that  he  had  many  and  great 
virtues,  and  attests  his  popularity  by  saying  (sect.  126)  "  turn 
autem  solus  hie  fere  in  manibus  adulescentium  fuit." 

We  should  have  expected,  therefore,  that  the  style  of  an  author 
of  such  prominence,  regarded  so  universally  as  a  leading  repre- 
sentative, if  not  the  originator,  of  one  phase  of  Latin  literary 
development,  would  have  long  ago  received  a  careful  and  ex- 
haustive investigation.  Yet  H.  Rieger,  writing  in  1889,  is  forced 
to  confess  (op.  cit.,  p.  5)  that  '  Haase's  complaint  at  the  neglect 
of  the  language  of  Seneca,  more  than  twenty-eight  years  ago,  has 
as  yet  borne  little  fruit;'  and  since  Rieger' s  own  dissertation, 
which  deals  with  the  causal  particles  in  Seneca,  the  only  impor- 
tant works  along  this  line  which  have  been  published  are :  G. 
REINECKE,  ft  De  coniunctionum  usu  apud  Senecam  philosophum  " 
(Dissert.,  Miinchen,  1890)  ;  J.  JOHRING,  "  De  particularum  ut,  ne, 
quin,  quominus  apud  Senecam  philosophum  vi  atque  usu  "  (Prager 
Studd.,  1.  Heft,  1894);  J.  HAMMELRATH,  " Grammatisch- 
stilistische  Beitrage  zu  den  pros.  Schriften  des  L.  A.  Seneca " 
(Progr.,  Emmerich,  1895;  on  the  tenses)  ;  F.  RECH,  "Observa- 
tiones  grammaticae  de  '  in '  praepositione  cum  accusative  iunctae 
apud  Senecam  usu"  (Dissert.,  Freiburg,  1895);  H.WEBER,  "De 
Senecae  philosophi  dicendi  genere  Bioneo "  (Dissert.,  Marburg, 
1895);  and  R.  B.  STEELE,  "Chiasmus  in  the  Epistles  of  Cicero 
Seneca,  Pliny  and  Fronto"  (in  "  Studies  in  Honor  of  B.  L.  Gilder- 
sleeve/7  Baltimore,  1902,  p.  339  ff.).1  Mention  should  also  be 
made  of  the  discussion  of  Seneca's  style  by  L.  FRIEDLANDER  in 
sectt.  224-235  of  his  article  "Der  Philosoph  Seneca,"  Hist. 
Zeits.  N.  F.  XLIX  (1900),  2,  p.  192ff. 

xFor  Steyns'  "Etude  sur  les  Me"taphores  et  les  Comparaisons "  see  Prefatory 
Note. 


10  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Hence  it  is  manifest  that  a  very  large  part  of  the  ground  still 
lies  neglected,  including,  strangely  enough,  that  section  of  it 
which  ought  to  prove  especially  fertile  in  the  case  of  such  an 
author  as  Seneca, — namely,  the  study  of  his  use  of  tropes  and 
figures.  My  attention  was  first  called  to  this  as  a  promising  field 
for  research  by  the  late  Dr.  MORRIS  C.  SUTPHEN,  at  that  time 
Instructor  in  Latin  in  the  Johns  Hopkins  University,  whose  own 
admirably  thorough  and  scholarly  dissertation  on  the  colloquial 
element  in  Seneca,  submitted  to  the  Board  of  University  Studies 
of  that  institution  when  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Philosophy,  in  1899,  remains  as  yet  only  in  manuscript, 
by  reason  of  the  untimely  and  greatly  lamented  death  of  its 
author  in  August,  1901,  but  will,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  ultimately  be 
published  as  a  highly  valuable  contribution  to  the  study  of  Seneca 
and  of  Latin  style  in  general.  I  very  soon  became  convinced 
that,  in  so  large  a  field,  I  should  be  compelled  to  make  a  choice 
between  extensive  and  intensive  methods;  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me 
that  a  somewhat  thorough  treatment  of  a  limited  portion  of  the 
subject  would  produce  better  results  than  a  more  superficial 
examination  of  the  whole,  I  decided  to  confine  my  present  inves- 
tigation to  the  use  of  METAPHOR  AND  COMPARISON  IN  SENECA'S 
"EpiSTULAE  AD  LuciLiUM."  My  reason  for  selecting  the 
Letters  was  that  they  are  generally  recognized  as  the  most  distinctly 
characteristic  part  of  Seneca7 s  writings  and  give,  as  is  stated  in 
sect.  289  of  Warr's  edition  of  TeuffePs  "History  of  Roman 
Literature/7  "the  fullest  reflection  of  the  writer's  idiosyncrasy." 
The  great  importance  of  a  study  of  metaphor  and  its  kindred 
figure,  simile  or  comparison,  has  been  emphasized  so  often  that 
there  is  no  need  for  me  to  justify  my  decision  to  turn  my  atten- 
tion to  that  side  of  Seneca's  style.  As  far  back  as  Aristotle, 
Poetics,  Chap.  22,  we  have  the  statement :  TTO\V  Se  iieyia-Tov  TO 
fjL6Ta(j)opt,/cov  elvai.  pdvov  yap  TOVTO  ovre  Trap'  a\\ov  ecrrl  \afSelVj 
e/Ji(f)Vias  re  crrjfjLeldv  ecru  •  TO  yap  ev  peTa^epeiv  TO  opoiov  Oewpelv 
ea-Ti.  The  exceedingly  great  value  which  an  index  of  Latin 
metaphors  would  have  for  a  student  of  that  language  is  emphasized 
on  page  504  of  Nagelsbach-Miiller's  "  Lateinische  Stilistik." 
BAKER,  "  Die  Metaphern  in  den  Satiren  des  Horaz  "  (Progr.  des 


Introductory  Remarks  11 

Realgymn.  zu  Stralsund,  1883),  p.  1,  asserts  that  the  figurative 
expressions  used  by  an  author  "  sind  unmittelbare  Erzeugnisse 
des  Geistes,  und  je  zahlreicher  dieselben  vertreten  sind,  um  so 
leichter  werden  wir  ein  treues  Bild  von  der  Gesichtskreise  des 
Schreibers  erhalten  ; "  they  enable  us  to  determine  "  auf  welchen 
Feldern  der  Geist  des  Schriftstellers  thatig  ist."  J.  FRANKE,  "  De 
Tib.  Silii  Italic!  Punicorum  Tropis"  (Dissert.,  Miinchen,  1889), 
p.  5,  after  commenting  upon  the  light  which  a  study  of  the  tropes 
and  figures  of  any  language  can  throw  upon  the  character  and 
mental  habits  of  the  people,  adds  "  qui  linguae  Latinae  in  dies 
magis  cognoscendae  operam  navat,  quin  in  tropos  quoque  e* 
figuras,  qualia  apud  singulos  Romanorum  scriptores  exstent, 
accuratius  inquirant,  facere  non  potuerunt."  At  the  beginning  of 
his  Zurich  dissertation  on  "  Metapher  und  Gleichnis  in  den 
Schriften  Lukians"  (publ.  Winterthur,  1897),  OSKAR  SCHMIDT, 
in  announcing  the  objects  which  he  has  in  view,  says  that  he 
desires,  by  his  collection  of  the  metaphors  and  similes  in  Lucian, 
to  present  a  picture  of  the  creative  talent  of  that  author  and  gain 
a  glimpse  into  the  civilization  of  the  period.1  Finally,  we  may 
quote  the  opening  words  of  H.  L.  Wilson's  dissertation  on  "  The 
Metaphor  in  the  Epic  Poems  of  Publius  Papinius  Statius  : "  "  The 
importance  of  the  metaphor  as  an  element  of  style  can  hardly  be 
overestimated.  Especially  is  this  true  of  the  literature  of  the 
Romans,  who  were  by  no  means  as  familiar  with  tropical  forms  of 
expression  as  most  modern  nations.  The  spheres  from  which 
metaphors  are  most  frequently  derived,  and  the  point  of  view  not 
only  in  the  creation  of  new  ones  but  also  in  the  development  or 
extension  of  those  already  found  in  literature,  serve  to  characterise 
the  different  classes  of  poetry  and  even  individual  poets."  In 
less  degree,  perhaps,  but  with  almost  equal  truth,  *  prose ?  and 
'  individual  prose  writers '  might  be  added  to  the  statement  of  this 
concluding  sentence ;  nor  can  the  way  in  which  the  poets  made 
use  of  metaphorical  language  be  fully  understood  and  appreciated 
without  some  knowledge  of  the  habits  of  prose  writers  in  the 
same  respect. 

JCf.  H.  P.  HUMPHRY,  " The  Significance  of  Similes"  in  "  Academy,"  Vol. 
67,  p,  461  f.  (Nov.  12,  1904). 


12  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Accordingly,  the  main  purpose  of  the  present  investigation  is 
to  show  how  extensively  Seneca  made  use  of  metaphor  and  com- 
parison, the  spheres  from  which  he  derived  them,  and  the  way  in 
which  he  handled  them.  But,  in  connection  with  this,  I  have 
also  sought  to  make  a  collection  of  examples  which  may  con- 
tribute something  to  our  knowledge  of  Latin  figurative  language 
in  general,  and  to  a  better  understanding  of  this  side  of  Silver 
Latinity  in  particular.  For  this  reason,  I  have  interpreted  "  meta- 
phor "  somewhat  broadly,  so  as  to  include  some  cases  which  would 
strictly  belong  under  the  head  of  metonymy ;  as  well  as  a  large 
number  of  tropical  expressions  which  had  become  more  or  less 
commonplace  and  trite,  but  which  could  not  be  omitted  from  any 
comparative  study  of  Latin  phraseology  and  style.  Similarly, 
I  have  preferred  to  use  the  term  "  Comparison "  rather  than 
"  Simile,77  in  order  to  admit  what  Berg,  in  his  Johns  Hopkins 
dissertation  on  "Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  the  Dialogues  of 
Plato/7  p.  5,  calls  "didactic  comparisons77  (the  7rapa/3o\r)  of 
Aristotle,  Rhet.  n,  20,  1393,  b  4:  cf.  Quint.  5,  11,  23  ;  6,  3,  59 
and  8,  3,  74  if.),  borrowing  the  term  from  E.  G.  SiHLER7s  unpub- 
lished "Study  of  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Plato77  (Johns 
Hopkins  Dissert.,  1882). 

Since  the  method  pursued  has  necessarily  resulted  in  the  collec- 
tion of  a  large  number  of  examples  (somewhat  over  five  thousand 
metaphors  and  between  three  and  four  hundred  comparisons),  the 
proper  arrangement  of  the  material  becomes  a  question  of  impor- 
tance. Several  different  systems  have  been  used  in  classifying 
metaphors.  That  which  has  by  far  the  longest  history  is  the 
fourfold  one  recommended  by  Quintilian,  Inst.  Or.  8,  6,  9-10 
(cf.  Pseud.-Plut.,  Vit.  Horn.  20),  which  divides  them  into  (1) 
animate  for  animate  ;  (2)  inanimate  for  inanimate  ;  (3)  inanimate 
for  animate ;  (4)  animate  for  inanimate.  This  is  the  one  used 
by  J.  MUTZELL,  "  De  translationum  quae  vocantur  apud  Curtium 
usu77  (Berlin,  1842)  and  by  Franke,  "De  Silii  Italici  Tropis,77 
although  the  latter  first  separates  his  examples  according  to  the 
parts  of  speech ;  and  is  endorsed  by  Nagelsbach-M tiller,  "  Die 
lateinische  Stilistik,77  p.  504.  A  second  method  was  proposed  by 


Introductory  Remarks  13 

S.  VON  RAUMER,  "  Die  Metapher  bei  Lucrez  "  (Progr.,  Erlangen, 
1893),  who  divides  them  according  as  they  are  concrete  terms 
used  for  concrete  :  concrete  for  abstract ;  abstract  for  abstract ;  or 
abstract  for  concrete.  H.  L.  Wilson  adopts  this  in  his  dissertation 
on  Metaphor  in  Statius,  already  cited.  Gerber,  "Sprache  als 
Kunst,"  n,  p.  83,  thinks  that  the  essential  distinction  is  indicated 
by  Tryphon's  phrase  (Spengel,  ill,  p.  191)  epcfxio-ecos  T)  ofjioidcrecos 
€ve/ca,  and  accordingly  suggests  as  the  proper  headings  "(1) 
Metapher  der  Schilderung,  (a)  eines  ruhenden,  (b)  eines  bewegten 
Bildes;  (2)  personifizierende  Metapher."  Still  another  method, 
which  has  been  profitably  used  several  times  in  recent  years, 
classifies  the  metaphorical  expressions  according  to  the  sphere 
from  which  they  are  derived.  This  was  employed  by  Backer  in 
his  article  entitled  "Die  Metaphern  in  den  Satiren  des  Horaz" 
and  more  fully  developed  by  HUGO  BLUMNER  in  "  Studien  zur 
Geschichte  der  Metapher  im  griechischen  "  (Leipzig,  1891).  It 
is  adopted  also  by  Schmidt  and  Berg,  and  by  Otto  in  the  "  Ver- 
zeichnis  der  Sprichworter  nach  sachlichen  Gesichtspunkten,"  on 
pp.  381-403  of  his  "  Sprichworter  und  sprichwortlichen  Redens- 
arten  der  Romer."  It  would  be,  of  course,  possible  to  discuss 
the  various  metaphorical  words  in  alphabetical  sequence,  as  P. 
LANGEN  has  done  in  his  article  "  Die  metapher  im  lateinischen 
von  Plautus  bis  Terentius"  (Jbb.  125,  1882,  pp.  673-692  and 
753-779).  Each  of  these  classifications  has  its  advantages  and 
its  disadvantages,  but  the  form  used  by  Bliimner  appears  to  be 
decidedly  the  best  for  the  objects  which  I  have  in  view  in  the 
present  investigation,  and  I  have  therefore  adopted  most  of  his 
divisions,  with  such  minor  changes  as  were  necessitated  by  the 
character  of  the  material ;  although  I  am  at  the  same  time  con- 
strained to  admit,  as  Bliimner  himself  does  (Vorwort,  p.  xviii), 
that  this  classification  is  by  no  means  perfect  and,  at  some  points, 
rather  unsatisfactory.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  I  shall  now 
proceed  to  present  the  examples  collected  under  the  following 
main  heads: 


14  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

PAGE 

I.  MAN,     -  -  17 

A.  SOUL,  MIND,  EMOTIONS,      -  17 

B.  THE  BODY  AND  ITS  CONDITIONS,     -  27 

(a)  The  Body  and  its  Parts,  -  27 

(b)  Life,  Death,  Burial,       -  -  36 

(c)  Health  and  Sickness,     -  39 

(d)  Sleep  and  Dreams,         -  -  46 

(e)  Periods  of  Life  (Childhood,  Youth,  Age),       -  -  47 

(f )  Senses  and  Perceptions,              -  48 

C.  SHELTER  AND  CLOTHING,     -  55 

(a)  The  House  and  its  Furnishings,  -  55 

(b)  Dress  and  Toilet,  -  62 

D.  FAMILY  AND  DAILY  LIFE,  -  62 

(a)  Relationships,  Family  and  Social,  -  62 

(b)  Generation  and  Birth,  -  63 

(c)  Love  and  Marriage,       -  64 

(d)  Master  and  Slave,  -  65 

(e)  Eating,  Drinking,  Preparation  of  Food,  -  68 

(f)  Amusements,     -  72 

(g)  Education,  -  77 
(h)  Miscellaneous,    -  78 

E.  RELIGION  AND  MYTHOLOGY,  -  81 

F.  FARMING,  HUNTING,  FISHING,  HORSEMANSHIP,    -  84 

(a)  Farming,             -  84 

(b)  Hunting,  -  88 

(c)  Fishing,  -  89 

(d)  Horsemanship,  -  -  89 

G.  ARTS  AND  TRADES,  -  -  90 

(a)  In  General,         -  -  91 

(b)  Building  (Architect,  Carpenter,  Mason),  -  92 

(c)  Metal- Working  and  Engraving,  -  94 

(d)  Sculpture,  -  95 

(e)  Drawing  and  Painting,  -  95 

(f )  Music  and  Literature,    -  96 

(g)  Weaving  and  Dyeing,    -  98 
(h)  Medicine  and  Surgery,  -  -  100 
(i)   Perfumery,  -  102 

H.   COMMERCE  AND  TRAVEL,    -  -  102 

(a)  Wealth,  Property,  Business,  Debt,  -                                     -  102 

(b)  Weights  and  Measures,  -            -  110 

(c)  Travelling  by  Land,     -  -  113 

(d)  Navigation,        -  -  124 


Introductory  Remarks  15 

I.   WARFARE,     -  -  127 

J.   LAW  AND  POLITICS,  -  135 

(a)  Offices,  -  135 

(b)  Laws  and  Courts,  r  137 

(c)  Crimes  and  Penalties,    -  -  144 

(d)  Civic  Life,  -  146 

II.  THE  REALM  OF  NATURE,  -  150 

In  General,  -  151 

A.  ANIMAL  KINGDOM,  -  151 

(a)  Wild  Animals,  -  152 

(b)  Domestic  Animals,         -  -  153 

(c)  Fish,       -  -  155 

(d)  Birds,     -  -  155 

(e)  Insects,  -  -  156 

(f)  Keptiles,  -  156 

B.  VEGETABLE  KINGDOM,  -  157 

C.  MINERALS,     -  -  159 

D.  THE  ELEMENTS,  WEATHER,  SEASONS,  CELESTIAL  PHENOMENA,  159 

(a)  Fire,  Heat,  Light,  -  159 

(b)  Air,  Wind,         -  -  162 

(c)  Water  and  Fluids,  -  163 

(d)  Weather,  Kain,  Snow,  -  166 

(e)  Heavenly  Bodies,  -  167 

(f )  Seasons,  Parts  of  the  Day,  -                                                  -  167 

E.  LAND  AND  SEA,        -  -  168 

(a)  Land  and  Mountains,    -  -  168 

(b)  Ocean,  Sea,  Tide,  etc.,  -  169 

(c)  Rivers,  Springs,  etc.,     -  -  171 

III.  GENERAL  NOTIONS,  -  173 

A.  PROPERTIES  OF  MATERIAL  OBJECTS,  -  174 

B.  WORDS  INDICATING  GENERAL  ACTIONS,     -  -  176 


I.    MAN 

Man  as  a  whole  furnishes  Seneca  with  few  metaphors  or  com- 
parisons. In  Ep.  86,  12,  after  commenting  upon  the  difference 
between  the  luxury  of  his  own  day,  with  its  perfumes  and  daily 
visits  to  the  public  baths,  and  the  customs  of  the  men  of  the 
period  of  the  Punic  wars,  he  asks  the  question  "  Quid  putas  illos 
oluisse?",  and  answers  "Militiam,  laborem,  virurn."  In  Ep.  46, 
2,  he  speaks  of  the  vlrilis  conpositio  of  Lucilius'  book  (cf.  Quint. 
2,  5,  9).  Ep.  66  has  several  comparisons  between  men  and 
things,  to  illustrate  quomodo  possint  paria  bona  esse,  si  triplex 
eorum  condicio  est.  In  sect.  21,  we  are  told  that  a  thing  which  is 
honorable,  but  tristis  atque  aspera  will  occupy,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
philosopher,  the  same  position  as  a  man  who  is  good,  but  poor, 
exiled  and  pale.  In  sect.  22,  a  good  man  who  is  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  riches  is  contrasted  with  one  who  has  nothing,  but  both 
are  equally  good  ;  so,  in  the  case  of  things,  virtue  is  equally  praise- 
worthy in  a  strong  free  body,  or  in  one  which  is  sick  and  bound 
A  similar  line  of  argument  is  pursued  through  sections  22-27  ; 
and  finally,  in  sections  33—34,  the  statement  is  made  that  all  good 
and  honorable  actions  are  equal,  just  as  all  good  men  are,  though 
differing  in  age,  beauty,  wealth  and  popularity. 

A.    SOUL,  MIND,  EMOTIONS 

Metaphors  from  this  sphere  are  very  numerous,  and  are  about 
equally  divided  between  moral,  intellectual  and  emotional  quali- 
ties. Substantives  are  used  for  this  purpose  comparatively 
seldom ;  adjectives  and  adverbs  show  a  considerably  larger 
number,  while  verbs  more  than  equal  the  other  two  classes 
combined.  Of  course,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  examples 
are  those  in  which  there  is  a  more  or  less  complete  personification 
of  abstract  qualities,  but  there  are  also  a  number  of  striking 
instances  of  tropes  involving  inanimate  objects.  For  convenience 

17 


18  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

of  reference,  it  has  seemed  best  to  give  an  alphabetical  list  of  the 
chief  examples  that  belong  in  this  division. 

admonere:  Ep.  39,  1  (ratio  as  subject).  Ep.  46,  1  (fames  as  subject).  Ep. 
47,  19  verberibus  muta  admonentur.  Ep.  49,  1  ab  aliqua  regione  admonitus. 
Ep.  57,  4  (natura  as  subject,  virtus  object).  Ep.  101,  1  (dies  and  hora  as  subjects). 

adprobare  :  Ep.  99,  18  stultius  vero  nihil  est  quam  famam  captare  tristitiae  et 
lacrimas  adprobare.  The  meaning  here  seems  to  be  'gain  people's  favor  by.' 
Haakh  in  his  translation  renders  "zeigen  zu  wollen."  Cf.  Sen.  Here.  Oet.  1712  ; 
id.  Med.  977;  and  Pliny,  N.  H.  11,  240  and  34,  45. 

aemulator  :  Ep.  124,  23  animus  .  .  .  aemulator  dei. 

agnoscere:  Ep.  66,  44  (virtus  as  subject). 

ambitiosus  :  Ep.  119,  14  ambitiosa  non  est  fames. 

arguere  :  Ep.  100,  3  contemplatio  diligens  inventura  est,  quod  arguat. 

argumentum  :  Ep.  122,  3  (action  is  "  et  officium  et  argumentum"  of  life). 

audax :  Ep.  114,  1  sensus  audaces  (of  literary  style ;  in  the  same  context, 
abruptae  sententiae).  Cf.  Quint.  8,  6,  67  (hyperbole  audacioris  ornatus);  id.  10, 
1,  104  (sententiae) ;  id.  10,  5,  4  (verba). 

audere  :  Ep.  42,  3  vitia  non  minus  ausura.  Ep.  114,  16  (sententiae)  plus 
ausae  quam  pudore  salvo  licet.  Ep.  123,  9  (malae  voces)  quom  initium  fecerunt 
admissaeque  insunt,  plus  audent.  The  only  example  given  by  Lexx.1  of  audere 
with  an  impersonal  subject  is  Lucr.  6,  1072  (latices  in  fontibus  audent  misceri) ; 
see  also  Antib.7,  I,  p.  218 l  s.  v.  audens.  Cf.  inausus. 

avidus:  Ep.  118,  6  felicitas,  'good  luck.' 

benignus  :  Ep.  117,  32  tempus  (in  same  connection,  liberate) . 

blandi  men  turn  :  Ep.  78,  22  sensuum. 

blandiri:  Ep.  46,  1  (with  Lucilius'  book  as  subject).  Ep.  114,  15  (with 
compositio  as  subject).  Lexx.  give  no  instances  of  the  use  of  this  verb  with  sub- 
jects of  this  type. 

blandus :  Ep.  103,  1  malum.     Ep.  118,  8  mala. 

cogitare :  Ep.  104,  6  corporis  .  .  .  male  cogitantis  (i.  e.,  impeding  thought ; 
but  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  for  a  different  explanation). 

colligere  :  Ep.  53,  5  stomachum  (after  seasickness  ;  evidently  derived  from  the 
common  phrase  colligere  animum.  I  find  no  other  example  of  colligere  stomachum). 

comis :  Ep.  88,  30  humanitas  .  .  .  comem  se  .  .  .  praestat. 

commendare :  Ep.  24,  21  ubi  veritati  commendas  verba  (so  the  MSS.,  but  see 
Hense,  ap.  crit.,  for  a  different  reading).  Ep.  42,  1  eximia  vero  ipsa  raritate 
commendat  (natura).  Ep.  55,  8  animus  .  .  .  sibi  commendat  omnia.  Ep.  76,  8 
vitem  fertilitas  commendat.  Ep.  104,  2  (Paulina)  mihi  valitudinem  meam  com- 
mendat. Ep.  119,  4  (fames)  mihi  commendavit  quodcumque  comprendero.  Ep. 
121,  16  mihi  .  .  .  me  natura  commendat. 

comminisci :  Ep.  78,  23  hoc  enim  iam  luxuria  commenta  est.  Ep.  86,  8  cum 
aliquid  novi  luxuria  commenta  est.  These  may  be  regarded  as  merely  cases  where 
luxuria  is  put  by  metonymy  for  luxuriosi.  In  the  sense  *  feign,  fabricate '  some- 
thing that  is  untrue,  comminisci  is  common  in  Plautus,  cf.  also  Ter.  Heaut.  674  ; 

1  For  meaning  of  these  abbreviations,  see  page  6. 


Soul,   Mind,  Emotions  19 

Cic.  Att.  6,  1,  8  ;  Quint.  5,  13,  30  (which  seems  the  only  instance  for  Quintilian), 
Meaning  l  devise,  contrive, '  it  occurs  in  Livy,  Mela,  Florus  and  especially  Sue- 
tonius, but  in  these  authors  it  always  has  a  personal  subject. 

concors  :  Ep.  89,  15  vita  concors  sibi.     Cf.  discors. 

concupiscere :  Ep.  90,  19  (natura)  super  vacua  coepit  concupiscere. 

conscius  :  Ep.  101,  15  lucem  ...  tot  consciam  scelerum. 

consentire:  Ep.  71,  2  'whatever  we  do  should  harmonize  with  the  summum 
bonum.'  In  the  sense  'agree  with,  harmonize  with,'  this  verb  is  quite  common, 
even  with  things  as  subject.  Ep.  118,  12  multa  naturae  .  .  .  consentiunt.  Ep. 
123,  14  retro  abducere  cum  vitio  .  .  .  consentire  est. 

consilium  :  Ep.  85,  8  '  no  passion  knows  how  to  obey  or  receives  advice. ' 

contemnere  :  Ep.  116,  5  (with  amor  as  subject). 

contemptrix  :  Ep.  88,  29  fortitude  contemptrix  timendorum. 

contentus  :  Ep.  77,  2  (ships  velo  contentae).  Ep.  95,  7  (arts  and  wisdom  'con- 
tent with  precepts'). 

contristare  :  Ep.  84,  2  (much  writing  contristabit  vires).     See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  360. 

contumax  :  Ep.  119,  2  natura. 

contumelia:  Ep.  70,  20  hoc  (i.  e.,  a  shocking  method  of  suicide  which  he  has 
just  described)  fuit  morti  contumeliam  facere.  Ep.  123,  3  (venter)  contumeliae 
patiens  (cf.  moratus). 

crudelitas  :  Ep.  70,  15  (vel  morbi  vel  hominis). 

cupere  :  Ep.  87,  16  virtus  .  .  .  nee  .  .  .  aut  cupit  .  .  .  aut  expavescit.  Ep. 
90,  38  avaritia. 

cura  :  Ep.  88,  23  artes  .  .   .  quibus  curae  virtus  est. 

delectari :  Ep.  119,  3  (natura)  ventrem  non  delectari  vult,  sed  impleri. 

delicatus  :  Ep.  92,  33  imperium.  In  trop.  sense  '  spoiled  with  indulgence, 
delicate,  dainty,  effeminate,'  cf.  Plaut.  Men.  119  ;  Quint.  9,  4,  113  and  11,  3, 
132  ;  in  sense  'fastidious,  scrupulous,'  cf.  Quint.  3,  1,  3  (aures)  and  Plaut.  Mil. 
984  (vah  delicatus  ! ) ;  see  also  morosus. 

deliciae  :  Ep.  ]  14,  2  disciplina  civitatis  .   .  .  se  in  delicias  dedit. 

deridere:  Ep.  49,  3  'we  only  live  for  a  brief  moment,'  sed  et  hoc  minimum 
specie  quadam  longioris  spatii  natura  derisit. 

desiderare  :  Ep.  88,  35  laxum  spatium  res  magna  desiderat.  Other  instances 
of  the  use  of  this  verb  with  inanimate  subjects  are  Cic.  Plane.  5,  13  (oculi  mei 
te);  id.  Arch.  11,  28  (virtus  nullam  mercedem);  id.  Att.  5,  16,  1  (haec  quae 
,  .  .  orationem);  id.  Q.  Fr.  3,  4,  4  (opera,  subject);  Quint.  3,  7,  4  (laus  proba- 
tionem),  and  often;  Pliny,  N.  H.  17,  249  (arbores  rigari).  Ep.  94,  10  non 
desiderant  manifesta  monitorem.  Ep.  120,  1  epistula  tua  .  .  .  hanc  expediri 
desiderat. 

desumere  :  Ep.  51,  1  ilium  (locum)  sibi  celebrandum  luxuria  desumpsit.  The 
only  authors  cited  for  this  verb  are  Horace  (Ep.  2,  2,  81  for.  Xe-y.),  Livy,  the 
younger  Pliny,  Tacitus,  and  Suetonius.  This  instance  in  Seneca  is  not  included 
in  Lexx.  nor  is  it  mentioned  in  Antib.7  (q.  v.,  I,  p.  431). 

deterrere :  Ep.  94,  37  leges  a  scelere  deterrent. 

diligens  :  Ep.  95,  14  remediis  diligentibus.  For  similar  use  in  connection  with 
inanimate  objects,  cf.  Cic.  De  Or.  1,  33,  150  (scriptura);  Pliny,  N.  H.  6,  84 
(notitia);  Tac.  Dial.  39  (stilus);  Veil.  1,  4  (custodia). 

discors  :  Ep.  95,  19  discordi  cibo  ;  cf.  Sen.  Oed.  323  (favilla);  id.  Here.  Fur. 
711  (latex);  id.  Med.  941  (fluctus). 


20  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

dissidere  :  Ep.  56,  5  dum  avaritia  luxuriaque  non  dissideant ;  cf.  in  same 
context  rixentur  and  vexet.  Ep.  84,  7  (summae  dissidentes).  Ep.  95,  19  (of  food) 
inter  se  tarn  diversa  dissideant.  Ep.  120,  8-9  ( neglegentia,  facilitas,  temeritas, 
fortitude)  inter  se  dissidentia. 

dubius  :  Ep.  104,  6  marcor  ille  corporis  dubii  (i.  e.,  in  ill  health). 

eligere :  Ep.  44,  2  nee  reicit  quernquam  philosophia  nee  eligit.  Ep.  91,  5 
eligit  aliquid  novi  casus  (subject).  Ep.  110,  12  luxuriae  .  .  .  certa  membra 
.  .  .  eligentis. 

excogitare  :  Ep.  90,  7  (philosophia  as  subject ). 

exigere:  Ep.  11,  10  aliquo,  ad  quern  mores  nostri  se  ipsi  exigant.  The  mean- 
ing here  is  'try,  prove,'  for  which  I  have  found  no  other  example  with  an 
inanimate  subject.  Ep.  16,  3  innumerabilia  .  .  .  quae  consilium  exigant.  Ep. 
20,  2  (philosophia,  subject).  Ep.  70,  18  nunquam  a  nobis  exegit  huius  virtutis 
experimentum  integri  ac  sani  felicitas  corporis.  Ep.  70,  18  (dies  as  subject ; 
wsum,  object).  Ep.  89,  9  (tertia  pars  philosophiae).  When  it  has  this  meaning 
of  'require,  demand,'  the  use  of  exigere  with  other  than  a  personal  subject  is  not 
common ;  the  only  examples  cited  by  Lexx.  being  Cic.  Tusc.  1,  39,  93  (natura  ; 
add  id.  Kep.  3,  28,  40);  Ov.  Fasti,  4,  230  (ira  poenas);  Col.  7,  12  (necessitas); 
id.  9,  proem,  (usus  epularum);  Pliny,  N.  H.  27,  17  (res);  id.  31,  58  (res); 
Quint.  5,  11,  5  (res);  id.  10,  3,  3  (res);  id.  12,  1,  37  (utilitas);  id.  12,  9,  20 
(ratio);  id.  12,  10,  69  (res);  Sil.  Ital.  7,  280 (fames  poenas);  Juv.  10,  187  (gloria 
poenas);  Claud.  Bell.  Goth,  (xxvi,  Koch)  194  ( Alpes  supplicium) . 

exorare  :  Ep.  78,  21  (nihil,  subject).  Ep.  94,  37  (praecepta,  subject)  in  con- 
nection with  eogunt ;  cf.  persuadere  and  minari. 

expavescere:  Ep.  87,  16  (virtus,  subject). 

expectare  :  Ep.  26,  7  te  mors  expectet  .  .   .  tu  illam  .  .  .  expecta. 

experiri :  Ep.  54,  4  mors  experitur  me  .  .  .  ego  illam  diu  expertus  sum.  Ep. 
82,  7  securos  aliquis  casus  expertus  est. 

fastidire  :  Ep.  87,  16  (artes  as  subject) .     Ep.  110,  12  (luxuria,  subject). 

fastidiose  :  Ep.  70,  20  fastidiose  mori. 

favere :  Ep.  90,  26  sapieutia  .  .  .  paci  favet ;  cf.  Sen.  Phoen.  438  and  Phaed. 
269. 

fidelis :  Ep.  21,  3  (gloria) ;  cf.  stabilis.  Ep.  27,  2  (inprobae  voluptates)  non 
sunt  solidae,  non  sunt  fideles.  Ep.  80,  2  spectaculum  non  fidele  et  lusorium 
(Pauly  translates  "eitel,"  and  Baillard  "  un  spectacle  de  mensonge").  Ep.  98, 
1  (gaudium)  fidele  firmumque.  Concerning  the  metaphorical  use  of  fidelis, 
Cicero  says  (Fam.  16,  17,  1)  "nam  et  doctrina  et  domus  et  ars  et  ager  etiam 
fidelis  dici  potest ;  ut  sit,  quomodo  Theophrasto  placet,  verecunda  translatio." 

fideliter ;  Ep.  2,  2  quod  in  animo  fideliter  sedeat.  Ep.  50,  8  fideliter  sedent, 
quae.  Ep.  80,  6  saepius  pauper  et  fidelius  ridet.  Ep.  84,  7  adsentiamur  illis 
(sc.  his,  quibus  aluntur  ingenia)  fideliter  et  nostra  faciamus. 

fides :  Ep.  67,  1  nee  adhuc  illi  fides  est  (of  a  backward  spring,  which  "saepe 
in  hiemem  revolvitur  " ). 

fortis:  Ep.  88,  2  (studium  sapientiae).  Ep.  95,  72  fortissimum  vulnus.  Ep. 
100,  10  oratio. 

furere  :  Ep.  95,  30  non  privatim  solum,  sed  publice  furimus. 

furor  :  Ep.  95,  32  potentem  explicitumque  late  furorem.     Cf.  insania. 


Soul,  Mind,  Emotions  21 

hilaris:  Ep.  66,  15  materia  (cf.  laetus).  Ep.  66,  24  res.  Cf.  Plant.  Poen. 
1367  (dies);  Cic.  Att.  7,  25  (litterae  hilariores);  Pliny,  N.  H.  16,  48  (abies 
hilarior);  id.  23,  144  (color  hilarior);  id.  36,  55  (marmor  hilarius);  Quint.  8,  3, 
49  (oratio);  id.  8,  6,  27  (adulescentia) ;  id.  12,  10,  28  (oratio  hilarior);  Juv.  15, 
41  (dies). 

honestare  :  Ep.  71,  5  incommoda  .  .  .  quae  .  .  .  virtus  honestaverit. 

honestus  :  Ep.  100,  8  corpus  (of  the  literary  work  of  Fabianus). 

honor  :  Ep.  92.  1  corpus  in  honorem  animi  coli. 

humane  :  Ep.  23,  1  humane  nobiscum  hiemps  egerit. 

imitari  :  Ep.  120,  8  imitatur  neglegentia  facilitatem,  temeritas  fortitudinem. 

improbus  (inp-):  Ep.  94,  19  non  .  .  .  inbecillam  aciem  committas  inprobo 
lumini.  Ep.  114,  21  lacernas  coloris  improbi. 

inausus :  Ep.  91,  15  nihil  inausum  esse  fortunae.  The  word  itself  is  confined 
to  poetry  and  post-Augustan  prose ;  being  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Verg.  A.  8, 
205  ;  Sen.  Troad.  669  ;  here;  Val.  Flacc.  1,  803  ;  Tac.  A.  1,  42  and,  as  subst., 
Sen.  Thyest.  20.  Add  Sen.  Phaed.  824  and  Mart.  2,  14, 1.  Cf.  audax  and  audere. 

inexorabilis :  Ep.  101,  7  fatorum  necessitas. 

infamia :  Ep.  82,  16  (mortis).  Ep.  100,  7  (the  style  of  Cicero)  sine  infamia 
mollis.  Ep.  Lib.  xxn  (excerpta  Gellii),  9  infamiam  nimis  lascivae  orationis. 
Cf.  Ov.  F.  1,  551  timor  atque  infamia  silvae  ;  id.  M.  8,  97  infamia  saecli. 

infamare  :  Ep.  22,  7  illos  apud  te  temeritatis  infamet.  Ep.  99,  26  infamant 
praecepta  nostra  duritiae.  In  the  tropical  sense  '  blame,  accuse,  charge '  this  verb 
is  post- Augustan  ;  the  only  examples  cited  in  Lexx.,  outside  of  Seneca,  being  in 
Livy,  40,  7,  8  ;  Quint.  10,  1,  74  ;  id.  Decl.  2,  4  ;  Apul.  Apol.  2.  H.  Lex.  (see 
p.  6)  states  that  it  is  "rare  but  classical"  in  the  sense  'bring  into  disrepute, 
dishonor,'  but  the  only  examples  there  cited  from  the  classical  period  are  Nep. 
Ale.  11  and  Cic.  Fam.  9,  12,  2,1  and  the  other  authors  quoted  are  Propertius, 
Ovid,  Columella,  Petronius,  Quintilian,  Statius,  Julius  Paulus,  Tertullian,2  and 
Claudius  Claudianus.  The  word  occurs  very  frequently  in  Quintilian,  who  shows 
5  examples  in  the  Institutiones,  and  there  are  over  a  dozen  instances  in  the  Decla- 
mationes. 

infestare:  Ep.  68,  7  huic,  a  quo  saepe  infestantur  (of  one's  "besetting"  weak- 
ness or  disease).  Pauly  translates  "das  ihn  mehrmals  plagt."  Ep.  71,  18  vir- 
tutem  .  .  ,  quam  incitat,  quicquid  infestat.  Cf.  Sen.  Ben.  4,  35,  2  iter  infestari 
latrociniis  nuntiatur  and  Sen.  Contr.  3,  18,  10  (pater  animam).  Infestare  is 
mostly  post- Augustan,  the  earliest  example  in  prose  being  Bell.  Alex,  3,  1  (muni- 
tiones,  object).  For  full  discussion  of  sphere  and  use,  see  Antib.7,  i,  p.  734  f. 
It  is  strange,  however,  that  no  reference  is  there  made  to  the  elder  Pliny,  who  is 
rather  fond  of  the  word,  e.  g.,  N.  H.  2,  228  (fons  amaritudine  infestatur);  6,  205 
(insulas  infestari  beluis);  15,  92  (membrana  saporem  nucium);  17,  216  (arbores 
infestantur  morbis);  23,  39  (vinum  nervos);  27,  16  (aloe  stomachum). 

infestus  :  Ep.  91,  1  numquam  denique  tarn  infestum  ulli  exarsit  incendium. 

inritare  :  Ep.  114,  21  inritant  illos  (sc.  oculos)  et  in  se  avertunt. 

1  The  only  other  instance  given  for  Cicero  by  Merguet  is  Scaur.  7,  13,  where 
the  reading  "  infamata,"  though  accepted  by  Miiller,  is  conjectural. 

s  Add  Firm.  Math.  2,  30,  2  ne  istius  divinae  scientiae  gloriam  ignobilis  pecuniae 
cupiditas  infamet ;  id.  3,  10,  10  ;  id.  4,  6,  2. 


22  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

inritatio  :  Ep.  9,  17  ad  amicitiam  fert  ilium  .  .  .  naturalis  inritatio.  This  word 
is  cited  first  for  Livy,  31,  14,  10  (animorum),  where  it  has  the  meaning  'wrath, 
anger.'  The  only  other  examples  given  by  Lexx.  are,  in  the  physical  sphere, 
Scrib.  Larg.  142  init.  and  a  disputed  reading  in  Gell.  6  (7),  16,  6  (edendi);  of 
feelings  and  passions,  Sen.  Dial.  12,  6,  6  (commutandi  sedes);  Tac.  G.  19  (con- 
viviorum) ;  and  several  from  the  Vulgate  Bible. 

insania  :  Ep.  29,  7  si  ridere  perseverabit,  gaudebo  .  .  .  ,  quod  illi  genus  insa- 
niae  hilare  contigerit.  Ep.  82,  6  cupiditatum  mansuescit  insania.  Ep.  83,  18 
nihil  aliud  esse  ebrietatem  quam  voluntariam  insaniam.1  Cf.  furor,  fuere  and 
rabidus. 

insanire :  Ep.  81,  27  ista,  propter  quae  vulgus  insanit.  Ep.  115,  8  circa 
tabulas  et  statuas  insanimus  ;  cf.  Hor.  Sat.  1,  2,  49  (in  libertinas).  Auct.  ad 
Her.,  the  two  Senecas,  and  Quintilian  are  the  only  prose  authors  cited  by  Lexx. 
for  this  tropical  use  of  insanire. 

insanus:  Ep.  9,  11  illam  (i.  e.,  adfectus  amantium)  esse  insanam  amicitiam. 

intellegere  :  Ep.  117,  26  futuram  adulescentiam  pueritia  .  .  .  intellegat. 

intemperantia  :  Ep.  88,  36,  desiring  to  know  too  much  intemperantiae  genus  est. 

invitare  :  Ep.  46,  1  sol  me  invitabat  (cf.  admonere  and  minari}.  Ep.  48,  11 
ad  hoc  invitatus  sum.  Ep.  55,  2  invitante  ipso  litore.  Ep.  65,  6  quid  est  pro- 
positum  ?  Quod  invitavit  artificem.  Ep.  118,  8  bonum  est  quod  invitat  animos 
(cf.  vocare,  p.  60).  Ep.  123,  13  duo  esse  genera  rerum,  quae  nos  aut  invitent  aut 
fugent.  Ep.  124,  2  nulla(sc.  voluptas)  enim  non  invitat.  The  tropical  use  of 
invitare  is  sporadic  in  poetry  and  prose  (including  Cicero),  from  Plautus  on. 

invitus  :  Ep.  85,  9  in  vita  ratione.  Ep.  95,  21  invitis  .  .  .  visceribus.  Ep.  104, 
29  invita  fortuna. 

iratus:  Ep.  18,  7  fortuna.  Ep.  58,  6  (aures  ;  cf.  propitius,  p.  110).  Ep.  110,  2 
nulli  te  posse  inprecari  quicquam  gravius,  quam  si  inprecatus  fueris,  ut  se  habeat 
iratum  (playing  on  the  phrase  deum  habere  iratum).  Ep.  120,  8  (of  spendthrifts) 
non  voco  ego  liberalem  pecuniae  suae  iratum. 

laetus:  Ep.  66,  15  rnateria  (cf.  hilaris}.  Ep.  79,  3  regio  .  .  .  et  herbida.  Ep. 
102,  21,  si  quod  est  ...  frequentius  accolis  laetiusve  tectis  solum. 

largus  :  Ep.  90,  40  terra  (in  connection  with  fertilior).  Ep.  100,  2  oratio. 
Examples  in  Seneca's  Tragedies  are:  Phaed.  498  (cruor),  512  (fons),  1263 
(fletus),  Oed.  307  (dapes),  979  (sanguis),  Here.  Get.  791-2  (tus). 

lascivia :  Ep.  114,  2  orationis.  Neither  lascivus  nor  lascivia  occurs  in  Cicero's 
orations.  In  Div.  1,  24  he  quotes  from  Pacuvius  the  phrase  piscium  lasciviam ; 
and  Fin.  2,  65  he  connects  the  word  with  hilaritate ;  cf.  De  Rep.  1,  63  licet .  .  . 
lascivire,  dum  nihil  metuas.  As  applied  to  style,  I  do  not  find  either  the  noun  or 
the  adjective  before  Seneca,  but  noun,  adjective,  and  verb  are  favorites  with  Quin- 
tilian as  rhetorical  terms,  as  Inst.  Or.  2,  5,  22;  10,  1,  43  (in  connection  with 
deliciae;  cf.  se  in  delicias  dedit  in  Seneca,  just  before  the  passage  quoted).  H. 
Lex.  endorses  the  opinion  of  Gronovius  that  lasciviam  in  Livy,  23,  11,  3  means 
'  impious  exultation. ' 

1  Prof.  K.  F.  SMITH  has  called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  similar  phrase  i& 
attributed  to  the  elder  Cato  by  Amm.  Marc.  15,  12,  4  ebrietate  continua  .  ,  .  , 
quam  furoris  voluntariam  speciem  esse  Catoniana  sententia  definivit ;  which  i& 
also  quoted  by  H.  JORDAN,  "  M.  Catonis  praeter  librum  de  re  rustica  quae  extant " 
Lips.  1860),  p.  110. 


Soul,  Mind,  Emotions  23 

lascivus  :  Lib.  xxn  (exc.  Gell.),  9  oratio  (in  connection  with  nitida). 

legere :  Ep.  44,  2  castra  quoque,  quos  ad  laborem  .  .  .  recipiant,  fastidiose 
legunt. 

le vitas:  Ep.  13,  11  habet  .  .  .  mala  fortuna  levitatem.  Fortasse  erit,  fortasse 
non  erit.  Ep.  98,  4  levitatem  casus. 

liberalis  :  Ep.  117,  32  tempus  (see  benignus).     Ep.  122,  1  spatium. 

lymphatus :  Ep.  85,  27  lymphatos  metu.  Cf.  Sen.  Med.  386  (furor  lympha- 
tus).  See  Antib.7,  IT,  p.  42. 

magnanimus  :  Ep.  88,  2  (stadium)  sublime,  forte,  magnanimum. 

maligne :  Ep.  18,  9  Epicurus  .  .  .  maligne  famem  extingueret.  Ep.  44,  1 
malignius  tecum  egisse  naturam.  Cf.  Sen.  Ben.  6,  16,  7  nee  quae  sciebat  maligne 
dispensavit ;  id.  ib.  6,  34,  3  fores  maligne  apertas  ;  also  Livy,  8,  12,  12  ager  .  .  . 
maligne  divisus. 

malignitas:  Ep.  52,  6  naturae.     Ep.  79,  17  saeculi.    Cf.  Col.  3,  10,  18  (vitis). 

malignus  :  Ep.  23,  1  ver.  Ep.  65,  17  lumen  (cf.  Verg.  A.  6,  270).  This 
adjective  is  chiefly  poetic,  especially  in  the  sense  'stingy,  grudging.'  The  only 
prose  authors  for  whom  it  is  cited  by  Lexx.  are  Seneca,  the  elder  Pliny,  and 
Quintilian. 

malitia  :  Seneca's  use  of  this  word  is  notable  in  that  it  shows  a  return  from  the 
tropical  sense  of  'spite,  meanness,'  which  is  the  usual  signification  in  the  classical 
authors,  to  its  original  force  of  '  badness,  vice.'  Ep.  75,  10  nemo  sit  extra 
periculum  malitiae,  nisi  qui  totam  earn  excussit.  Ep.  81,  21  si  malitia  miseros 
facit,  virtus  beatos  (cf.  Sail.  Jug.  22,  2  virtute,  non  malitia).  Ep.  81,  22  (quoted 
from  Attains).  Ep.  82,  12  malitia  ...  an  virtus.  Ep.  82,  14.  Ep.  85,  25  qui 
timet .  .  .  non  caret  malitia,  sed  leviore  vexatur.  Ep.  92,  29  malitiae  vis.  Ep. 
94,  13  pravis  opinionibus  malitia  contracta.  Ep.  94,  19  malitia  liberatus.  Cf. 
Plaut.  Mil.  942  collatio  nostrarum  malitiarum  ;  Cic.  N.  D.  3,  30,  74  everriculum 
malitiarum  omnium  ;  and  especially  Cic.  Tusc.  4,  15,  34  virtutis  contraria  est 
vitiositas  ;  sic  enim  malo,  quam  malitiam  appellare  earn,  quam  Graeci  Kadav 
appellant :  nam  malitia  certi  cuiusdam  vitii  nomen  est,  vitiositas  omnium. 

mandare  :  Ep.  116,  3  curam  nobis  nostri  natura  mandavit. 

mansuescere  :  Ep.  71,  5  omnia  .  .  .  quae  .  .  .  videntur  mala  .  .  .  mansuescent. 
Ep.  82,  6  cupiditatum  mansuescit  insania.  In  the  tropical  sense  of  'grow  tame, 
gentle,  mild,  soft,'  the  verb  is  poetic,  being  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Lucr.  2,  475 
(umor)  and  5,  1367  (terra);  Verg.  G.  2,  239  (tellus),  and  4,  470  (corda);  Lucan, 
1,  332  (fauces),  and  Petr.  122,  line  149  (solis  radiis);  but  the  corresponding  use 
of  the  ppl.  mansuetus  is  common. 

mendacium  :  Ep.  76,  32  fortunae  mendacia. 

mendice  :  Ep.  33,  6  si  tamen  exegeris,  non  tarn  mendice  tecum  agam,  sed  plena 
manu  net. 

mens :  Ep.  19,  12  dum  incipis  esse  mentis  tuae,  interim  hoc  consilio  sapientium 
utere. 

mentiri :  Ep.  45,  10  tota  mihi  vita  mentitur  :  hanc  coargue,  hanc  ad  verum,  si 
acutus  es,  redige. 

minari :  Ep.  46,  1  nubes  minabantur.  Ep.  78,  12  id,  quod  extremum  minatur. 
Ep.  94,  37  (leges)  minantur.  In  the  tropical  sense  'threaten,'  with  inanimate 
subject,  cf.  Cic.  Plane.  40,  95  (domus  mea);  id.  Tusc.  5,  27,  76  (dolor);  Verg. 


24  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

A.  2,  240  (machina)  and  628  (ornus);  Hor.  A.  P.  350  (arcus);  Juv.  3,  256 
(plaustra);  id.  14,  294  (color  caeli);  Claud.  Cons.  Mall.  Theod.  (xvii  Koch)  237 
(torrentes  pontibus). 

minitari :  Ep.  66,  40  morbis  .  .  .  extrema  minitantibus. 

moratus  :  Ep.  123,  3  bene  moratus  venter. 

morem  gerere  :  Ep.  70,  12  morem  animo  gerere.  Ep.  106,  11  morem  gessi 
tibi,  illustrates  the  ordinary  classical  usage. 

morosus :  Ep.  78,  11  stomachus.  Ep.  92,  33  (corporis)  morosum  imperiuni 
.  .  .  est. 

nescire  :  Ep.  79,  10  haec  una  maiestas  deprimi  nescit.  Ep.  85,  8  (adfectus) 
parere  nescit.  Cf.  Cic.  De  Or.  3,  18,  65  Stoici  .  .  .  irasci  nesciunt ;  Verg.  G.  3, 
84  (equus)  stare  loco  nescit  ;  Hor.  A.  P.  390  nescit  vox  missa  reverti ;  Stat. 
Theb.  9,  743  (leo)  nescit  in  antra  reverti ;  Juv.  10,  360  qui  nesciat  irasci ;  Sen. 
Agam.  113  redire  .  .  .  nescit  pudor ;  id.  Here.  Fur.  1229  (vultus  nescit  lacri- 
mare) ;  id.  Med.  866  frenare  nescit  iras  ;  id.  Here.  Oet.  298  nescit  irasci  satis. 

nolle  :  Ep.  110,  10  nolente  rerum  natura. 

noscere  :  Ep.  95,  30  non  avaritia,  non  crudelitas  modum  novit. 

obiratus  :  Ep.  56,  9  ambitio. 

obiurgare  :  Ep.  107,  9  nee  velit  (animus)  obiurgare  naturam. 

obsequi  :  Ep.  50,  6  animus  .  .  .  omni  umore  obsequentior  (note  how  the  figure 
is  here  revivified).  Ep.  95,  4  obsequens  ingenium  (here,  too,  the  trite  metaphor 
gains  new  life  from  the  preceding  clause  "ad  actiones  rectas  praecepta  per- 
ducunt").  Ep.  95,  36  quidam  .  .  .  nudis  tantum  praeceptis  obsecuntur.  Ep. 
99,  20  naturae  obsequi. 

obsolefacere  :  Ep.  29,  3  (auctoritas  obsolefacta).  Ep.  90,  43  fontes  rivique 
non  opere  nee  fistula  nee  ullo  coacto  itinere  obsolefacti.  Cf.  Val.  Max.  3,  5,  1 
(toga)  and  Suet.  Aug.  89  (nomen  .  .  .  commissionibus).  The  verb  seems  post- 
Augustan,  except  for  Cic.  Phil.  2,  41,  105  obsolefiebant  dignitatis  insignia  ;  where 
Baiter  and  Kayser  doubt  the  reading,  and  others  adopt  obsolescebant  or  obsolebant. 

odisse  :  Ep.  88,  29  (temperantia  voluptates  odit). 

parcere:  Ep.  88,  17  fallit  me  hora,  si  parcit.  Ep.  88,  30  clementiam,  quae 
alieno  sanguini  tamquam  suo  parcit.  Ep.  114,  7  pepercit  gladio,  sanguine 
abstinuit. 

parcus  :  Ep.  99,  24  meminisse  parcissime  (contrasted  with  effusissime  flere). 

pati :  Ep.  87,  19  nee  quemlibet  possessorem  patitur  (bonum). 

patiens  :  Ep.  123,  3  venter  .  .  .  contumeliae  patiens  (cf.  moratus). 

permittere  :  Ep.  51,  3  sibi  plurimum  luxuria  permittit.  Ep.  113,  30  ius 
dominandi  trans  maria  .  .  .  permittere.  Ep.  113,  23  Cleanthes  ait  spiritum  esse 
a  principali  usque  in  pedes  permissum,  is  an  instance  of  the  literal  use  of  this 
verb,  which  Lexx.  show  to  be  quite  rare. 

persuadere  :  Ep.  25,  5  omnia  nobis  mala  solitude  persuadet.  Ep.  94,  37 
(leges)  non  persuadent. 

petere :  Ep.  29,  3  sapientia  .  .  .  certum  petat  (in  the  same  passage  sapienlia  is 
the  subject  of  eligat,  desperavit,  recedat,  relinquat  and  temptet).  Ep.  113,  31  iustitia 
.  .  .  nihil  ex  se  petens  (in  the  same  passage  occur  alienum  bonum  spedans  and  sibi 
placeat). 

placere  :  Ep.  47,  21  (boni  mores)  placent  sibi.     Ep.  113,  31  (see  petere). 


Soul,  Mind,  Emotions  25 

placide  :  Ep.  114,  15  si  quid  placidius  effluxit  (of  literary  style). 

poscere  :  Ep.  90,  19  quod  (natura)  poscit.  Ep.  119,  2  contumax  est  (natura), 
non  potest  vinci,  suum  poscit.  Ep.  123,  10  dum  (aetas)  poscit  (voluptates). 

prodige  :  Ep.  88,  30  homini  non  esse  homine  prodige  utendum.  The  adverb  is 
cited  by  Lexx.  only  here  ;  Cic.  Phil.  11,  16,  13 ;  and  Sen.  Dial.  7,  20,  4  (where 
it  is  contrasted  with  sordide).  The  tropical  use  of  the  adjective  is  not  uncommon, 
but  chiefly  poetic  ;  cf.  Hor.  Od.  1,  12,  38  animae  .  .  .  prodigum  ;  id.  ib.  1,  18,  16 
arcanique  fides  prodiga  ;  Veil.  2,  48,  3  prodigus  suae  .  .  .  fortunae  et  pudicitiae  ; 
Sil.  1,  225  prodiga  gens  animae  ;  Juv.  7,  138  (Eoma);  id.  ib.  10,  304  prodiga 
corruptoris  improbitas  ;  Gell.  11,  5,  4  iudicii  sui ;  id.  19,  2,  3  (libidines)  (con- 
strued with  in  and  ace.);  Auct.  Quint.  Decl.  292  prodigis  oculis  (in  sense 
'greedy'). 

profited  :  Ep.  87,  16  istae  artes  non  sunt  magnitudinem  animi  professae.  Ep. 
120,  18  (gradus,  in  quo  deficimus,  lassitudinem  profitetur). 

promittere  :  Ep.  19,  1  (epistulae)  non  promittunt  de  te,  sed  spondent.  Ep. 
48,  11  quod  mihi  philosophia  promittit.  Ep.  93,  6  (diem)  quern  .  .  .  spes  avida 
promiserat.  Ep.  115,  10  si  plus  scelera  promittent. 

proritare :  Ep.  23,  2  quern  spes  aliqua  proritat.  Cf.  Colum.  2,  10,  17  (pre- 
tium);  Sen.  Dial.  9,  12,  5  (res  species);  Scribonius,  Comp.  Med.  104  (stomachum 
varietate  .  .  .  ciborum);  Arnob.  5,  178  (aliquem  ad  furias). 

prosperus  :  Ep.  92,  19  corpore  parum  prospero. 

putare:  Ep.  88,  30  (temperantia  as  subject). 

quaerere  :  Ep.  9,  15  summum  bonum  extrinsecus  instrumenta  non  quaerit. 
Ep.  9,  15  si  (summum  bonum)  quam  partem  sui  foris  quaerit.  Ep.  88,  29 
secreta  quaeret  dolor.  Ep.  91,  2  Lugdunum  .  .  .  quaeritur  (i.  e.,  cannot  be 
found,  since  it  was  destroyed  by  fire). 

queri  :  Ep.  22,  15  (natura)  nobiscum  queri  debet  et  dicere. 

querulus  :  Ep.  78,  10  (of  the  body,  in  contrast  with  the  mind)  hac  querula  et 
fragili  (parte). 

rabidus :  Ep.  99,  24  sic  aves,  sic  ferae  .  .  .  quarum  .  .  .  concitatus  est  amor 
et  paene  rabidus.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  3,  12,  5  (of  a  human  being);  id.  ib.  5,  16,  2 
(adfectus).  In  trop.  sense  'impulsive,  passionate,  impetuous,'  it  is  very  rare  in 
prose,  outside  of  Seneca,  but  common  in  poetry;  cf.  Cat.  63,  38  (furor  animi); 
Ov.  A.  A.  3,  501  (mores);  Gell.  19,  9,  7  facundia  rabida  iurgiosaque. 

rabere  :  Ep.  29,  7,  in  sense  'rave,  be  mad.'  Is  a  very  rare  verb  and  seems  to 
come  from  the  old  poets;  see  Nonius  1,  186  (Miiller  I,  p.  54)  and  Cic.  Div.  1, 
31,  66;  cf.  Manil.  5,  208  (canicula)  and  224  (lingua),  in  both  cases  connected 
with  latrare. 

rabies  :  Ep.  89,  23  ad  sedandam  rabiem  adfectuum. 

recusare  :  Ep.  36,  10  dies,  quern  multi  recusarent.  Ep.  51,  10  nullum  laborem 
recusant  manus. 

reicere :  Ep.  44,  2  (see  eligere).  Ep.  86,  8  (balnea)  in  antiquorum  numerum 
reiciuntur.  Ep.  124,  2  nullain  voluptatem  reiceremus,  nulla  enim  non  invitat. 

reperire  :  Ep.  81,  31  divitias  .  .  .  malo  vitae  humanae  repertas. 

repetere  :  Ep.  36,  11  stellarum  iste  discursus,  quicquid  praeteriit,  repetit.  Ep. 
104,  6  repetivi  ergo  iam  me  (which  is  the  only  instance  I  have  found  where  it  is 
used  in  the  sense  '  recover  health  '  ;  for  its  employment  in  the  opposite  sense,  of 
the  return  of  a  disease,  see  Antib.7,  n,  p.  502). 


26  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

saevire  :  Ep.  90,  7  (pelagus).     Ep.  95,  17  (febres). 

saevitia  :  Ep.  82,  6  timorum.     Ep.  90,  41  hiemis. 

saevus  :  Ep.  104,  27  libertate  bellis  ac  tyrannis  saeviore. 

scire  :  Ep.  43,  1  is  qui  scit  plurimum,  rumor.  Ep.  88,  29  (temperantia  impe- 
rat,  odit,  abigit,  dispensat,  redigit,  venit,  scit).  Ep.  88,  30  clementiam,  quae 
.  .  .  parcit  et  scit. 

scrutari  :  Ep.  89,  22  gula  .  .  .  maria  scrutator.  Ep.  99,  28  dolorem  scrutamur, 
an  quid  habeat  iucundum  (here,  however,  the  logical  object  is  the  clause,  rather 
than  dolorem]. 

securus  :  Ep.  100,  5  Fabianus  non  erat  neglegens  in  oratione,  sed  securus.  Ep. 
124,  19  sollicitum  est,  quod  potest  esse  securum  (indefinite  neuter  subject). 

sobrius  :  Ep.  108,  14  (mensa). 

sollicitare :  Ep.  68,  4  furem  signata  sollicitant.  Ep.  118,  8  quod  invitat  ad  se 
et  adlice  facit,  veri  simile  est :  subripit,  sollicitat,  adtrahit. 

sollicitudo  :  Ep.  9,  7  ilia  in  opere  suo  occupata  sollicitudo  ingens  oblectamen- 
tum  habet  in  ipsa  occupatione. 

sollicitus  :  Ep.  84,  11  ambitum  :  tumida  res  est  ...  sollicita  est.  Ep.  124,  19 
(see  securus}. 

superbia  :  Ep.  116,  5  superbia  (amoris)  accendimur  (quoted  from  Panaetius). 

superbus  :  Ep.  4,  10  superbis  .  .  .  liminibus  (this  is  really  a  grammatical 
figure,  with  superbis  for  superborum).  Ep.  122,  4  superba  umbra  (the  correct 
reading  in  this  passage  is  quite  doubtful,  but  the  one  preferred  by  Hense,  which 
is  here  adopted,  is  at  least  as  likely  as  any.  For  variants  and  conjectures  see 
Hense's  ap.  crit.,  and  the  critical  notes  of  Schweighauser  and  Fickert). 

suspectus  :  Ep.  70,  5  cum  primum  illi  coepit  suspecta  esse  fortuna.  Ep.  122, 
4  suspectior  illis  quam  morbo  pallentibus  color  est. 

suspicere  :  Ep.  18,  8  illo  nomine  te  suspice,  quod  facies  non  coactus. 

suspicio  :  Ep.  114,  11  si  sententia  pependerit  et  audienti  suspicionem  sui  fecerit. 

suspiciosus  :  Ep.  114,  1  abruptae  sententiae  et  suspiciosae.  The  meaning  here 
seems  to  be  '  suggestive,'  for  which  I  find  no  parallel.  Haakh  renders  "geheim- 
nissvolle." 

temerarius :  Ep.  59,  6  translationes  verborum  ut  non  temerarias  ita  quae 
periculum  sui  fecerint. 

temptare  :  Ep.  65,  1  lectione  primum  temptavi  animum.  Ep.  83,  27  si  temp- 
tantur  pedes. 

timere :  Ep.  97,  12  nequitia  tenebras  timet.  Ep.  123,  16  superstitio  .  .  . 
amandos  timet. 

tolerantia :  Ep.  31,  7  animi  est  ipsa  tolerantia,  quae  se  ad  dura  et  aspera 
hortatur.  Tolerantia  is  not  a  common  word,  and  I  find  no  other  example  of  it 
connected  with  the  subjective  genitive. 

vehemens  :  Ep.  90,  4  corpora  .  .  .  vehementissima  (referring  to  animals). 

voluntas  :  Ep.  76,  15  ad  naturae  suae  voluntatem  accommodata. 

In  contrast  with  the  large  number  of  metaphors  which  belong 
under  this  category,  Seneca  here  shows  very  few  similes.  In  Ep. 
85,  9  the  statement  is  made  that  moderation  in  yielding  to  pas- 
sions is  to  be  regarded  as  if  one  should  be  advised  to  be  insane 


The  Body  and  its  Parts  27 

with  moderation ;  cf.  Ter.  Eun.  63  des  operam  ut  cum  ratione 
insanias.  Ep.  94,  17  quotes  quite  a  long  comparison  from  Aristo, 
to  the  effect  that  the  only  difference  between  the  insanity 
of  the  people  and  that  which  is  entrusted  to  the  doctor's 
care  is  that  the  latter  is  due  to  disease,  the  former,  to  mistaken 
ideas.  In  the  one  case,  the  causes  of  madness  come  from  ill- 
health  ;  in  the  other,  it  is  sickness  of  the  mind.  One  who  tries 
to  advise  a  madman  how  to  act  is  more  insane  than  the  man  he 
advises.  The  physical  cause  of  the  disease  must  be  removed. 
The  same  should  be  done  in  the  madness  of  the  soul ;  the  madness 
itself  must  be  dislodged  or  the  words  of  advice  will  be  wasted. 

In  Ep.  113,  3  occurs  the  purely  formal  comparison  that,  as  the 
wise  man  does  all  things  through  virtue,  so  virtue  does  all  things 
through  itself. 

In  Ep.  121,  12  the  consciousness  which  men  have  of  their  own 
intelligence  is  used  as  an  illustration  and  proof  of  the  statement 
that  animals  have  a  similar  consciousness  of  their  own  nature. 
The  same  comparison,  somewhat  differently  stated,  is  made  also 
in  the  following  section. 

B.    THE  BODY  AND  ITS   CONDITIONS 
(a)    THE  BODY  AND  ITS  PARTS 

As  was  to  be  expected,  Seneca  makes  large  use  of  the  body  as 
a  whole  and  its  several  parts  and  functions,  for  both  metaphor 
and  simile.  This  is  quite  in  accord  with  the  general  rule ;  see, 
for  example,  Baker,  "  Die  Metaphern  in  den  Satiren  des  Horaz," 
p.  1  ff. ;  Blumner,  '•  Studien  zur  Geschichte  der  Metapher,"  p. 
38  ff.  ;  O.  Schmidt  "  Metapher  und  Gleichnis  in  den  Schriften 
Lukians,"  p.  13  ff. ;  Berg,  "  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  the 
Dialogues  of  Plato,"  p.  17  ff: 

To  begin  with  the  word  corpus  itself,  we  have :  Ep.  46,  1 
(referring  to  a  book  received  from  Lucilius)  levis  mini  visus  est, 
cum  esset  nee  mei  nee  tui  corporis,  sed  qui  primo  aspectu  aut 
Titi  Livii  aut  Epicuri  posset  videri.  The  meaning  of  the  expres- 
sion is  not  altogether  clear.  Pauly  renders  it  u  die  fur  meine 


28  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

und  Deine  Hande  zu  gewichtig  scheint ; "  and  Baillard  "  il 
de"passe  la  taille  des  miens  comme  des  tiens."  It  is  possible  to 
see  here  an  allusion  to  corpus  in  the  sense  of  '  a  work/  as  in  Cic. 
Fam.  6,  12,  4  (cf.  crapa,  id.  Att.  2,  1,  3) ;  ^Sen.  Dial.  9,  9,  6  ; 
Suet.  Gram.  6,  and  elsewhere  ;  and  in  the  next  example  here 
quoted.  The  idea  then  would  be,  '  larger  than  such  works  as  you 
or  I  generally  write.'  Ep.  84,  2  (whatever  has  been  gathered  by 
reading)  stilus  redigat  in  corpus.  Ep.  89,  1  dividi  philosophiam 
et  ingens  corpus  eius  in  membra  disponi.  Ep.  95,  52  membra 
sumus  corporis  magni  (i.  e.,  the  universe).  Ep.  100,  8  totum 
corpus  videris  quam  sit  comptum  (of  the  literary  work  of 
Fabianus). 

The  body  is  used  in  the  following  similes.  Ep.  80,  3  '  If  the 
body,  by  exercise,  can  be  brought  to  a  condition  where  it  can 
endure  blows,  sun,  dust,  and  can  stand  all  day  dripping  with  its 
own  blood ;  so  can  the  soul  more  easily  be  strengthened  so  as 
to  endure  the  blows  of  fortune,  and,  when  thrown  down  and 
trampled  under  foot,  it  can  rise  again.  The  body  needs  many 
things  for  its  health ;  the  soul  grows  of  itself,  nourishes  itself, 
exercises  itself.  The  athlete  needs  much  food,  drink,  oil,  and 
labor ;  you  may  get  virtue  without  equipment,  without  expense.7 
Ep.  92,  30  '  As  the  body  is  erect  and  looks  toward  heaven,  so  the 
soul,  which  can  reach  as  far  as  it  desires,  has  been  formed  by 
nature  to  wish  for  the  same  things  as  do  the  gods.7  The  compar- 
ison in  this  case  is  not  well  balanced.  Ep.  93,  7  '  As  a  man  can 
be  perfect  though  his  body  be  small,  so  life  can  be  perfect,  though 
in  a  brief  space  of  time.'  Ep.  99,  18  (  As  the  forcing  out  of  the 
breath  by  the  pain  of  a  blow  shakes  the  body,  so  it  also  does  the 
eyes,  causing  the  moisture  to  flow  from  them.' 

Here  should  also  be  included  :  Ep.  120,  22  'It  is  a  great  thing 
to  be  one  man.  But,  aside  from  the  philosopher,  we  are  all 
multiformes.'  Ep.  71,  8  i  Virtue  can  become  neither  larger  nor 
smaller/  unius  staturae  est.  Ep.  76,  31  'No  one  is  great  because 
wealth  or  offices  have  put  him  on  a  pinnacle.  You  are  measuring 
him  pedestal  and  all.  A  dwarf  is  not  large  because  he  stands  on 
a  mountain,  nor  a  colossus  small,  because  it  stands  in  a  well/ 
Ep.  6r  1  non  emendari  me  tan  turn  sed  transfigurari ;  cf.  Quint.  6, 


The  Body  and  its  Parts.  29 

2,  1  iudicum  animos  .  .  .  velut  transfigurare.  Ep.  94,  48  animus 
eius  transfiguratus  est.  Ep.  66,  4  non  deformitate  corporis  foedari 
aniinum,  sed  pulchritudme  animi  corpus  ornari.  Ep.  50,  4 
morborum  tantas  vires.  Ep.  91,  5  per  quod  velut  oblitis  vires 
suas  ingerat  (casus).  Ep.  120,  5  'we  may  conjecture  robur 
animi  from  vires  corporis7  (this  is  used  as  an  illustration  of 
"analogia").  Cf.  other  examples  of  metaphorical  use  of  robur, 
given  under  I.  B,  (c),  p.  40. 

Membrum  is  used  metaphorically  in  the  following  passages. 
Ep.  21,  6  quicumque  membra  ac  partes  alienae  potentiae  fuerunt. 
Ep.  33,  5,  the  Epicurean  writers  can  furnish  quotations  more 
readily  than  the  Stoics,  because  the  latter  should  be  viewed  as  a 
whole.  In  them,  there  is  no  objection  to  looking  at  singula 
membra,  provided  it  is  done  as  in  the  case  of  a  human  being.  A 
woman  is  not  beautiful  whose  ankle  or  arm  is  praised,  but  she 
whose  complete  beauty  takes  away  admiration  from  the  individual 
parts.  Ep.  89,  1,  quoted  under  corpus.  Ep.  92,  30  socii  sumus 
eius  (i.  e.,  dei)  et  membra.  Ep.  95,  52,  quoted  under  corpus. 

Of  the  separate  parts  of  the  body,  those  which  provide  Seneca 
with  metaphors  or  comparisons  are : 

pectus :  Ep.  59,  9  non  satis  credimus  nee  apertis  pectoribus  haurimus.  The 
object  of  the  sentence  is  '  the  discoveries  of  philosophers'  ;  but  the  combination 
of  pectus  and  haurire  is  very  awkward. 

latus  :  Ep.  101,  6  ad  latus  mors  est. 

cutis :  Ep.  9,  13  sapientem  undique  submovent  (plerique)  et  intra  cutem  suam 
cogunt.  Pauly  translates  "driingt  ihn  auf  sich  selbst  zuriick."  Ep.  72,  5 
*  sometimes  something  comes  from  without  to  remind  us  that  we  are  mortal,'  sed 
id  leve  et  quod  summam  cutem  stringat.  This  expression  may  be  proverbial ;  see 
M.  C.  SUTPHEN  in  A.  J.  P.  xxn,  p.  28,  and  example  from  Prudentius  there 
cited. 

caput :  Ep.  21,  5  'the  deep  flood  of  time  will  come  over  us,'  pauca  ingenia 
caput  exerent.  Ep.  65,  20  '  do  you  forbid  me  to  have  intercourse  with  heaven, 
that  is,  do  you  bid  me '  vivere  capite  demisso  ?  Ep.  108,  28  senectus  .  .  .  adules- 
centiam  cogitantibus  supra  caput  est. 

facies  :  Ep.  66,  7  haec  eius  (sc.  virtutis)  est  facies,  si  sub  unum  veniat  aspectum 
et  semel  tota  se  ostendat.  Ceterum  multae  eius  species  sunt.  Ep.  79,  18  leviter 
extrinsecus  inducta  facies  (of  character).  Ep.  87,  1  'the  Stoic  paradoxes,  of 
which  none  is  false  nor  as  strange'  quam  prima  facie  videtur.  While  facies 
applied  to  things  is  not  uncommon,  I  do  not  find  the  phrase  prima  fade  elsewhere 
in  literary  Latin  except  Sen.  Controv.  10,  15  (incorrectly  cited  by  H.  Lex.1  as 

1  See  page  6  for  meaning  of  abbreviation. 


30  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

"5,  10,  15")  dicebat  (Latro)  quosdam  esse  colores  prima  facie  duros.  Cf.  Gaii 
Inst.  4,  126  and  Dig.  16,  1,  13.  For  the  use  of  fades  in  the  sense  of  aspectus,  see 
H.  L.  WILSON,  "Satires  of  Juvenal"  (1903),  on  Sat.  10,  157.  Ep.  89,  1  universa 
mundi  facies.  Ep.  102,  13  veritatis  .  .  .  una  facies  est.  Ep.  113,  9  animi.  Ep. 
115,  3-7,  metaphor  of  "beholding  the  face  of  the  mind"  runs  through  the  whole 
passage.  Ep.  122,  17  (vitia)  innumerabiles  habent  facies. 

voltus  (vul-):  Ep.  67,  11  sunt  quaedam  tristis  voltus  bona.  Ep.  71,  34  cum 
ilia  (i.  e.,  fortuna)  conferre  vultum  (that  is,  'look  at  face  to  face,'  probably 
involving  a  reminiscence  of  the  common  military  phrases  with  manus,  signa,  and 
pedem).  We  may  also  include  here  Ep.  101,  9  mens  .  .  .  cum  multo  RISU  seriem 
temporum  cogitat ;  and  Ep.  123,  13  cetera  blanda  et  ADKIDENTIA. 

frons  :  Ep.  5,  2  frons  populo  nostra  conveniat. 

coma:  Ep.  114,  5  quid  turpius  "amne  silvisque  ripa  comantibus?"  This  is 
one  of  a  series  of  passages  from  Maecenas  criticized  by  Seneca, 

vellere  :  Ep.  40,  10  illi  singula  verba  vellenti,  tamquam  dictaret,  non  diceret 
(illi  is  Vinicius).  Vellere  '  pull,  pluck'  is  generally  used  of  hair,  feathers,  plants, 
etc.,  and  the  lexicons  do  not  cite  any  parallel  to  this  passage.  For  a  different 
metaphorical  application,  see  Stat.  Silv.  5,  2,  3  mea  secreto  velluntur  pectora,  '  my 
heart  is  tormented  in  secret.'  In  Ep.  114,  14,  while  discussing  literary  style, 
Seneca  says  *  I  declare  that  the  one  is  as  much  at  fault  as  the  other.  The  one 
takes  more  care  of  himself  than  he  ought,  the  other  is  more  careless  than  he 
ought  to  be,'  ille  et  crura,  hie  ne  alas  quidem  vellit.  For  vellicare,  see  p.  34  and 
for  convdlere  and  divellere,  pp.  176-177. 

barba :  Ep.  48,  7  barbam  demisimus  is  used  by  metonymy  for  '  have  become 
philosophers.'  Ep.  92,  34  contains  the  simile  'as  we  pay  no  attention  to  the 
clippings  when  our  hair  and  beard  are  trimmed,  so  the  soul  cares  not  what  be- 
comes of  the  man  who  has  been  its  temporary  receptacle,  when  it  is  about  to 
leave  him.' 

auris :  Ep.  75,  7  quid  aures  meas  scabis?  (of  'tickling  the  ears'  with  elo- 
quence). Ep.  94,  55  'let  there  be  some  guardian  at  hand'  et  aurem  subinde 
pervellat,  '  and  banish  rumors  and  cry  out  against  the  praises  of  the  people.' 
Ep.  108,  39  rein  spinosam  et  auribus  erectis  curiosisque  audiendam  ;  cf.  Ep.  68, 
9  erexeram  aures.  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  49,  cites  a  number  of  examples  of 
this  phrase,  but  thinks  that  Donatus  on  Ter.  Andr.  933  shows  that  the  Romans 
did  not  regard  it  as  proverbial,  although  the  corresponding  uo-lv  e<TTu><nv  was 
reckoned  as  a  proverbial  formula  by  the  Greeks. 

oculus :  Ep.  12,  6  mortem  ante  oculos  habere.  Ep.  49,  1  totus  mihi  in  oculis 
es.  This  phrase,  in  the  sense  '  be  in  the  presence  of, '  is  Ciceronian  ;  but  in  this 
context  is  used  hyperbolically,  for  Seneca  means  that  he  was  visiting  places  which 
reminded  him  of  Lucilius.  Ep.  66,  27  (virtue  looks  upon  all  her  works  isdem 
oculis).  Ep.  66,  30  ab  ipsis  virtutibus  avertit  oculos.  Ep.  71,  34  contra  fortu- 
nam  audeat  adtollere  oculos,  sed  non  pertinaciter,  cadunt  enim  nimio  splendore 
praestricti.  Ep.  88,  45  (of  different  schools  of  philosophers)  illi  non  perferunt 
lumen,  per  quod  acies  derigatur  ad  verum,  hi  oculos  mihi  effodiunt.  Ep.  91,  8 
tota  ante  oculos  sortis  humanae  condicio  ponatur. 

Here  belongs,  if  the  reading  is  correct,  Ep.  33,  3  non  habemus  itaque  ista 
OCLIFERIA  nec  emptorem  decipimus  ;  where  the  meaning  is  that  the  Stoic  writers 
have  no  striking  'show  passages.'  The  word  is  cited  nowhere  else  (H.  Lex.  gives 


The  Body  and  its  Parts  31 

the  reference  incorrectly  as  "Ep.  4,  4,  3"),  and  F.-DV.1  says  that  either 
"ocliferia"  or  "oculiferia"  is  "a  verbal  monstrosity;"  but  "odorifera,"  which 
it  prefers  as  a  substitute,  though  it  may  be  an  improvement  in  form,  is  not  in 
sense.  F.  STOLZ,  Hist.  Gram.,  i,  p.  419,  endorses  the  form  in  the  text. 

conivere  :  Ep.  81,  25  nisi  .  .  .  manifestum  etiam  coniventi  discrimen  est.  Cf. 
Cic.  Cat.  2,  12,  27  ;  id.  Flacc.  11,  25  ;  id.  Har.  Resp.  24,  52  ;  id.  Gael.  17,  41 
and  24,  59  ;  id.  Pis.  5,  11  ;  id.  Mil.  12,  32  ;  id.  Phil.  1,  7,  18  ;  id.  frag.  ap. 
Prob.  p.  35,  23  K.  ;  Suet.  Caes.  67  ;  Pers.  6,  50 ,  Cod.  Theod.  2,  14,  1.  See  H. 
RONSCH,  "Itala  und  Vulgata"  (Marburg,  1875),  p.  311,  and  H.  GOLZER, 
"Hieronymus"  (Paris,  1884),  p.  99. 

superciliurn  :  Ep.  48,  7  in  hoc  supercilia  subduximus ;  which  may  be  regarded 
as  rather  a  case  of  metonymy.  Ep.  123,  11  tristes  et  SUPERCILIOSOS  alienae 
vitae  censores.  This  adjective  is  post- Augustan  and  very  rare  ;  cited  by  Lexx. 
only  here;  Arnob.  1,  8;  Mart.  Cap.  8,  sect.  809  (in  compv. );  and  Auct.  de 
duodecim.  abusiv.  5  and  8.  Superciliurn  with  the  meaning  *  pride,  scorn,'  which 
is  quite  classical,  occurs  in  Ep,  4,  10  supercilium  grave,  and  Ep.  87,  40  divitiis 
demere  supercilium. 

The  EYE  furnishes  three  similes.  In  Ep.  94,  5,  Seneca  quotes 
at  considerable  length  the  comparison  employed  by  Aristo  that 
<  if  anything  obscures  the  sight  of  the  eye  it  must  be  removed. 
While  it  is  there,  there  is  no  use  in  telling  the  man  how  to  walk 
or  toward  what  to  stretch  out  his  hand.  So,  when  anything 
blinds  the  mind,  there  is  no  use  in  telling  the  man  how  he  should 
live ;  when  the  error  which  is  spread  before  the  mind  is  shaken 
off,  then  duty  appears.'  Seneca  proceeds  to  criticize  this  com- 
parison in  sections  18-20  of  the  same  Epistle.  In  Ep.  85,  5 
he  says  that  there  ought  to  be  an  entire  absence  of  evils,  not  a 
diminution  of  them,  in  a  good  man  ;  just  as  a  greater  suffusio 
blinds  the  eyes,  but  even  a  slight  one  disturbs  them.  In  Ep. 
117,  8  he  illustrates  the  proposition  that  'if  baseness  is  an  evil, 
so  being  base  is  an  evil'  by  the  comparison,  'just  as,  if  weakness 
of  the  eyes  is  an  evil,  so  it  is  evil  to  be  weak-eyed '  (lippire). 

Other  metaphors  connected  with  the  eye  are  to  be  found  below, 
under  "  Sight/7  in  the  section  dealing  with  "  Senses  and  Per- 
ceptions," pp.  49  ff. 

OS:  Ep.  24,  21  haec  cum  descripsisses  quo  soles  ore  ("avec  ta  verve  ordinaire," 
Baillard).  Ep.  79,  4  ore  montis  (of  a  volcano.  The  metaphorical  use  of  os  is 
common  enough,  but  I  find  no  other  instance  where  it  is  applied  to  a  mountain  ; 

1  For  meaning  of  abbreviation,  see  p.  6. 


32  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

compare,  however,  Tac.  A.  4,  59  os  specus).  Ep.  81,  31  tibi  uno,  quod  aiuntr 
ore  adfirmabunt.  This  proverbial  metaphor  first  appears  in  Ter.  Andr.  96,  and 
runs  through  the  literature  down  to  Ammianus  Marcellinus.  It  occurs  in  Greek 
also.  See  Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  259.  Ep.  104,  1  illud  mihi  in  ore  erat 
(introducing  a  saying  of  Gallio's). 

mordere  :  Ep.  66,  32  (res  animum  mordet);  cf.  Sen.  Tro.  1011  lenius  luctus 
lacrimaeque  mordent.  Ep.  78,  29  hoc  tene,  hoc  morde.  In  this  sense,  'hold 
firmly  in  the  mind,  meditate  upon,'  Lexx.  cite  only  here,  but  compare  mordicus 
in  the  sense  'holding  fast,'  in  Cic.  Ac.  2,  16,  51  (perspicuitatem  mordicus 
tenere),  Kep.  1,  34,  51  (nomen  mordicus  tenent),  and  Fin.  4,  28,  78  (verba 
tenent  mordicus);  also  Afran.  ap.  Charis.  p.  205,  9  K.  retinet  nunc  linguam 
mordicus. 

morsus :  Ep.  19,  4  sine  desiderio  aut  morsu  animi  tui.  Ep.  63,  4  cum  aliquo 
nobis  morsu  amissorum,  quos  amavimus,  nomen  occurrat  ;  cf.  Hor.  Ep.  1,  14,  38 
mea  commoda  quisquam  .  .  .  morsu  venenat ;  Ov.  P.  1,  1,  73  (curarurn);  Cic. 
Tusc.  4,  7,  15  (doloris);  id.  Off.  2,  7,  24  (libertatis  intermissae);  Sil.  7  (incor- 
rectly cited  as  "2"  in  H.  Lex.),  271  (famae).  Ep.  99,  14  non  est  dolor  iste, 
sed  morsus  (on  the  death  of  Marcellus'  son). 

adrosor  :  Ep.  27,  7  stultorum  divitum  adrosor,  in  a  word-play  with  adrisor  and 
derisor. 

erodere :  Ep.  91,  11  vis  ignium  colies,  per  quos  relucebat,  erosit. 

respuere  :  Ep.  9,  2  qui  respuat  omnis  mali  sensum.  Ep.  13,  12  metum  respue. 
Ep.  53,  12  quaedam  (tela)  ...  in  eum  usque,  qui  miserat,  respuit.  Ep.  79,  14 
Catonem  civitas  .  .  .  respuit.  Ep.  104,  34  respuendae  voluptates.  Ep.  116,  5 
sive  enim  non  respuit  (nos  amor). 

saliva  :  Ep.  79,  7  Aetna  tibi  salivam  movet.  The  context  is  that  Aetna,  as  the 
theme  for  a  poem,  "  makes  Lucilius'  mouth  water."  I  find  this  phrase  only 
here.  Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  306,  compares  Petr.  48  quicquid  ad  salivam 
facit,  "  was  den  Gaumen  reizt  ;"  cf.  also  Pers.  5,  112  saliva  Mercurialis. 

strangulare :  Ep.  51,  13  (voluptates)  latronum  more  ...  in  hoc  nos  amplec- 
tuntur,  ut  strangulent.  Cf.  Ov.  Tr.  5,  1,  63  strangulat  inclusus  dolor  ;  Juv.  10, 
12  plures  nimia  congesta  pecunia  cura  |  strangulat ;  Cod.  Theod.  12,  3,  1  venditor 
.  .  .  omnes  causas  singillatim,  quibus  strangulatur,  exponat. 

ARTICULUS  :  Ep.  89,  15  articulos  (sc.  temporis),  '  the  right  moment.'  With  the 
meaning  'moment,'  articulus,  with  or  without  temporis  or  rerum,  is  sporadic  in  the 
literature,  from  Plautus  to  the  Codex  Justinianus.  See  Antib.7,  i,  p.  203,  with 
references  to  Hellmuth  and  Landgraf. 

There  are  so  many  phrases  with  MANUS,  that  it  may  be  well  to 
sub-divide  them  into  cases  where  it  is  combined  with  adjectives, 
with  verbs,  and  with  prepositions.  The  examples  are  as  follows  : 

manus  with  adjectives  ;  certa  :  Ep.  81,  2  nemo  habet  tarn  certam  in  beneficiis 
manum,  ut  non  saepe  fallatur  :  aberrent,  ut  aliquando  haereant.  This  metaphor 
probably  comes  from  archery ;  cf.  Quint.  9,  4,  8  et  arcu  dirigentium  tela,  quo 
certior  manus,  hoc  est  habitus  ipse  formosior. 

,  longa  :  Ep.  82,  5  non  habet .  .  .  fortuna  longas  manus  ;  neminem  occupat 

nisi  haerentem  sibi.  See  Otto,  op.  cit.,  p.  210. 


The  Body  and  ics  Parts  33 

,  plena  :  Ep.  33,  6  plena  manu  fiet.     Ep.  120,  10  plena  manu  dantem. 

See  Otto,  op.  cit.,  p.  212. 

,  rapida :  Ep.  95,  32-33  non  erat  animus  ad  frugalitatem  magna  vi  redu- 

cendus,  a  qua  paullum  discesserat :  "Nunc  manibus  rapidis  opus  est,  nunc  arte 
magistra."  This  quotation  is  a  combination  of  Verg.  A.  8,  442  and  6,  261. 

,  summa  :  Ep.  12,  4  potio  .  .  .  quae  ebrietati  summam  manum  inponit. 

Ep.  71.  28  inchoatus  et  ad  summa  procedens  .  .  .  etiam  si  adpropinquat  perfecto 
bono,  sed  ei  nondum  summam  manum  inposuit.  Ep.  101,  8  qui  cotidie  vitae  suae 
summam  manum  inposuit.  See  Otto,  op.  cit.,  p.  212,  to  which  add  Ov.  A.  A.  3, 
226;  Veil.  2,  33,  1  (ultima  manus);  Quint.  10,  1,  97. 

manus  with  verbs  ;  admovere  :  Ep.  82,  12  utrum'malitia  illis  an  virtus  manum 
admoverit  (he  has  just  before  used  the  expression  adiit  tractavitque) . 
— ,  facere  :  See  under  "  Arts  and  Trades,"  p.  91. 

,  inicere  :  Ep.  1,  2  si  hodierno   manum   inieceris.     Ep.  34,  2  adsero  te 

mihi :  meum  opus  es.  Ego  quom  vidissem  indolem  tuam,  inieci  manurn.  Ep. 
70,  11  quidni  huic  (sc.  morti  facili)  inicienda  sit  manus?  Ep.  79,  6  nee  illis  (sc. 
verbis  paratis)  manus  inicit  tamquam  alienis.  Sunt  enim  publica.  Ep.  104,  1 
(febris)  manum  mihi  iniecerat.  Ep.  108,  12  docibilibus  leviterque  corruptis 
inicit  manum  veritas.  These  examples  might  also  be  classified  as  belonging  to 
the  Judicial  sphere,  to  which  the  reference  is  especially  clear  in  the  context  of 
the  one  last  cited. 

— ,  inponere  :  Ep.  90,  40  nondum  valentior  inposuerat  infirmiori  manum. 
Ep.  101,  8  (already  cited  under  summa  manus). 

,  intentare  :  Ep.  71,  22  in  oculos   nunc  mihi   manum  intentat  ille,  qui 

omnium  animum  aestimat  ex  suo. 

,  locare  :  Ep.  37,  2   qui   manus  harenae  locant  (of  gladiators  ;  harenae 

being  dative).    Ep.  44,  3  Cleanthes  aquam  traxit  et  rigando  horto  locavit  manus.. 

,  porrigere  :  Ep.  29,  4  (Marcellus  can  yet  be  saved  from  his  faults)  si  cito 

illi  manus  porrigitur.  Ep.  73,  15  di  .  .  .  ascendentibus  manum  porrigunt.  Ep. 
Ill,  4  (any  man  should  be  satisfied  who  has  grown  to  that  height)  quo  manus 
fortuna  non  porrigit. 

,  tendere  :  Ep.  48,  8  omnes  undique  ad  te  manus  tendunt  (and  beg  for  aid 

for  their  lost  and  perishing  life). 

manus  with  prepositions;  ad:  Ep.  23,  2  licet  ad  manum  sit    (spes  aliqua). 
Ep.  100,  3  (of  the   oratory  of  Fabianus)  et  fere  quae  inpetu  placent,  minus, 
praestant  ad  manum  relata. 

,  in  :  Ep.  70,  13  cogitare  id  in  manibus  esse  consilium  ( '  you  are  dealing, 

with'). 

.  inter  :  Ep.  12,  1  haec  villa  inter  manus  meas  crevit. 

,  per  :  Ep.  101,  5  id  quoque,  quod  tenetur,  per  manus  exit. 

,  sub :  Ep.  71,  1  consilium  nasci  sub  diem  debet .  .  .  :  sub  manu,  quod" 

aiunt,  nascatur.  Cf.  Plane,  ap.  Cic.  Fam.  10,  23,  2  and  Suet.  Aug.  49  ;  and  see- 
Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  213. 

In  Ep.  95,  64  occurs  the  simile  that,  as  the  hands  are  to  tPie 
heart,  so  are  praecepta  to  the  hidden  decreta  sapientiae. 

We  may  include  in  this  connection  the  following  examples : 


34  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

digitus  :  Ep.  71,  4  suminum  bonum  .  .  .  digito,  ut  ita  dicam,  demonstrandum 
est.  Cf.  Ep.  94,  32  viam,  quam  admonitio  demonstrat. 

arripere  :  Ep.  101,  3  genere  valitudinis  praecipiti  arreptus. 

prendere  :  Ep.  22,  3  occasionem  .  .  .  prende. 

vellicare :  Ep.  20,  13  excitandus  e  somno  et  vellicandus  est  animus.  Ep.  63,  1 
ilium  (the  man  who  has  risen  beyond  the  reach  of  fortune)  quoque  ista  res  (the 
death  of  a  friend)  vellicabit,  sed  lantum  vellicabit.  For  vellere,  see  p.  30. 

tractare :  Ep.  33,  5  (ingenia  maximorum  virorum  tota  tractanda  sunt).  Ep. 
40,  4  (oratio  popularis)  tractandam  se  non  praebet.  Ep.  66,  8  quidquid  tracta- 
vit,  id  amabile  .  .  .  facit.  The  subject  is  summum  bonum,  which  is  also  the  subject 
of  attigit,  adducit,  and  disposuit  in  the  preceding  sentence.  Ep.  82,  12  quicquid 
.  .  .  virtus  adiit  tractavitque.  Ep.  85,  38  quemadmodum  sit  tractanda  paupertas. 
Ep.  100,  2  non  esse  tractatam  nee  diu  tortam  (sc.  orationem  Fabiani).  Ep.  103, 
5  (philosophia)  periculi  causa  insolenter  tractata. 

tractatus  :  Ep.  88,  28  mentibus  nostris,  quae  tractatu  caelestium  crescunt. 

intractabilis  :  Ep.  25,  1  aetatem  .  .  .  duram  et  intractabilem. 

retractare  :  Ep.  71,  17  Catonem  vulnera  .  .  .  retractantem ;  cf.  Ov.  Tr.  3,  11, 
19,  where  vulnera  is  also  the  object,  but  the  meaning  is  different.  Ep.  78,  14 
praeteritos  dolores  retractare.  Ep.  99,  19  memoria  eorum,  quos  amisimus,  retrac- 
tatur.  Ep.  110,  8  si  eadera,  quamvis  sciat,  retractaverit. 

ainplecti:  meaning  'comprehend,'  Ep.  89,  2  animus  totam  molem  eius  (sc. 
philosophiae)  amplectitur.  Meaning  'embrace,'  as  a  sign  of  affection,  Ep.  51, 
13  (cited  under  strangulare,  p.  32)  and  Ep.  66,  48  bona  .  .  .  et  amplexanda  et 
laudanda. 

amplexari  :  Ep.  71,  28  metuenda  ceteris,  si  alicuius  honesti  officii  pretia  sunt, 
non  tantum  fert,  sed  amplexatur.  Ep.  106,  1  neminem  res  (i.  e.,  business  inter- 
ests) secuntur.  Ipsi  illas  amplexantur. 

complecti(conp-):  Ep.  94,  1  summain  .  .  .  totius  vitae  complexus  est.  Ep.  99, 
10  universum  complectere.  Ep.  106,  2  moralem  philosophiam  velle  conplecti. 
The  use  of  this  verb  in  the  sense  '  grasp  intellectually,  comprehend '  is  quite  fre- 
quent in  Cicero  and  Quintilian,  but  rare  elsewhere.  In  the  sense  'embrace,'  as 
an  evidence  of  affection,  it  is  more  common,  e.  g.  Ep.  75,  9  qui  .  .  .  quae  erant 
complectenda,  didicerunt.  Ep.  79,  14  exilium  suum  complexus  est.  Ep.  95,  36 
honesta  complexi  sunt,  cum  primum  audiere.  Ep.  95,  55  ut  fortitudinem  com- 
plectamur.  Similarly  the  noun  complexus  is  found  in  Ep.  53,  8  dignus  ilia  (sc. 
philosophia)  es,  ilia  digna  te  est ;  ite  in  complexum  alter  alterius.  Ep.  66,  13  in 
conplexu  libertatis  expirat. 

Seneca  derives  fewer  tropical  expressions  from  the  LEGS  and 
FEET.  His  favorite  metaphor  here  is  with  the  verb  calcare.  the 
use  of  which  in  the  sense  '  tread  down,  oppress '  is  not  uncommon 
in  Latin  ;  but  the  meaning  '  spurn,  despise/  which  he  prefers,  is 
comparatively  rare,  and  chiefly  poetic.  Examples  of  this  verb  and 
its  compounds  in  Seneca  are:  Ep.  12,  10  calcare  ipsas  necessi- 
tates (cf.  Sen.  Med.  253  superbo  miserias  calcem  pede) ;  Ep.  14, 


Tlie  Body  and  its  Parts  35 

10;  31,  1;  45,  9;  48,  11;  76,  20;  94,  56  pedibus  aurum 
argentumque  subiecit  (natura)  calcandumque  ac  premendum  dedit 
quidquid  est  propter  quod  calcamur  ac  premimtir  (which  shows 
the  shifting  of  the  word  from  a  literal  to  a  figurative  sense) ;  Ep. 
23,  6  conculca,  *  treat  with  contempt ; '  Ep.  27,  9  quibusdam 
remedia  monstranda,  quibusdam  inculcanda  sunt.  The  word  pes 
is  used  metaphorically  in  Ep.  100,  7  (of  Cicero's  style)  pedem 
curvat  lenta  (but  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  for  other  readings) ;  Ep. 
110,  7  'all  our  life  long  we  rush  on,  and  do  not  halt  nor'  circum- 
spectius  pedem  ponimus.  In  Ep.  95,  46,  occurs  the  comparison 
that  nothing  is  more  shameful  than  one  who  is  doubtful,  un- 
decided, and  timide  pedem  referente ;  '  but  this  happens  to  us  in 
everything,  unless  those  things  are  removed  which  hinder  the 
mind/  Here  may  also  be  included  Ep.  88,  20  liberales  artes  .  .  . 
animum  .  .  .  expediunt ;  Ep.  97,  14  hoc  ...  si  sic  expediatur ; 
and  Ep.  103,  1  ad  versus  hoc  (periculum)  te  expedi.  The  second 
of  these  examples  illustrates  the  use  of  expedire  in  the  sense 
'  explain,  relate/  which  has  lost  all  feeling  of  the  original  meta- 
phor and  belongs  to  archaic  or  colloquial  prose,  with  a  few 
examples  in  poetry,  notably  Verg.  A.  3,  379.  See  Antib.7,  I, 
p.  550,  and  references  there  given.  In  Ep.  Ill,  3,  we  are  told 
that  the  true  philosopher  has  height  and  greatness  of  his  own, 
non  exsurgit  in  plantas  nee  summis  ambulat  digitis  eorum  more, 
qui  mendacio  staturam  adiuvant  longioresque  quam  sunt,  videri 
volunt.  In  Ep.  74,  23,  hamstringing  is  used  as  an  illustration  of 
those  things,  the  removal  of  which  causes  not  only  the  loss  of  the 
things  themselves,  but  also  the  coming  of  actual  harm ;  so,  when 
the  sinews  of  the  knee  are  cut,  not  only  is  speed  destroyed,  but 
weakness  takes  its  place. 

Other  instances  of  metaphors  from  the  body  and  its  functions 
are : 

exanguis:  Ep.  64,  3  the  writings  of  some  philosophers  have  only  a  famous 
name,  cetera  exanguia  sunt.  Cf.  Ep.  89,  21,  where  vena  is  used  of  channels  for 
hot  water. 

effeminare  :  Ep.  82,  2  paulatim  enim  effeminatur  animus. 

pinguis  :  Ep.  73,  10  pingue  otium. 

spirare  :  Ep.  95,  10  '  you  are  mistaken  if  you  think  that  philosophy  promises 
only  terrestrial  things,'  altius  spirat. 


36  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

spiritus  :  Ep.  50,  6  quid  enim  est  aliud  animus  quam  quodam  modo  se  habens 
spiritus?  Ep.  74,  29  (virtus)  magni  spiritus  est  et  erecti.  Ep.  90,  44  alti  spiritus 
viros.  Ep.  102,  7  '  we  think  nothing  good  which  is  composed  of  diverse  elements,' 
uno  enim  spiritu  unum  bonum  contineri  ac  regi  debet.  Here  may  be  included 
Ep.  102,  9,  where  applause  and  hissing  are  compared  to  snoring  and  coughing. 

stomachus  :  Ep.  112,  3  stomachum  illi  fecit  luxuria.  This  sense  is  quite  clas- 
sical, and  especially  frequent  in  Cicero  ;  but  it  seems  to  pass  out  of  use  after  his 
period,  until  revived  by  Seneca.  It  is  continued  by  Quintilian  and  Suetonius. 
Similarly  stomachari  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Terence,  Cicero,  Horace,  Augustus 
(quoted,  Suet.  Tib.  21),  Seneca  (Ep.  12,  2  occasionem  stomachandi),  and 
Apuleius,  whose  use  of  it  with  cognate  accus.  biles  Venerias,  in  Met.  5,  31,  is 
especially  noteworthy.  In  Ep.  84,  5-7  there  is  a  comparison  between  digestion 
and  mental  assimilation,  which  is  worked  out  with  considerable  detail,  and  leads 
to  the  application  of  haurire  and  concoquere  to  intellectual  action  ;  cf.  Quint.  10,  1, 
19.  We  can  hardly  endorse  the  adverb  "eleganter"  which  Seneca  applies,  in 
Ep.  91,  19,  to  the  comparison  instituted  by  Demetrius  between  the  words  of 
ignorant  men  and  ventre  redditos  crepitus  ;  "  '  For,'  said  he,  '  what  difference  does 
it  make  to  me  whether  they  sound  from  above  or  from  below  ? ' '  Cf.  Cic.  Fam. 
9,  22,  5. 

sudare  :  Ep.  18,  1  December  .  .  .  cum  maxime  civitas  sudat.  In  the  sense  '  be 
busy,'  sudare  is  rare  but  classical.  See  RITSCHL  in  Eh.  Mus.  N.  F.  12,  p.  457  f., 
on  Peerlkamp's  proposed  reading  of  sudare  for  Hor.  Od.  2,  1,  21.  In  Ep.  31,  7 
non  est  viri  timere  sudorem,  we  have  merely  a  case  of  metonymy  for  laborem. 
Here  should  be  included  oluisse  in  Ep.  86,  12,  cited  on  p.  17. 

tergiversari :  Ep.  77,  11,  when  death  approaches,  everyone  ter giver satur,  tremit, 
plorat.  Ep.  104,  22  one  should  receive  the  weapons  of  fortune  adverse  peclore, 
.  .  .  non  latitantem  nee  terffiversantem.  Tergiversari  is  a  favorite  verb  with  Cicero, 
rare  elsewhere. 

castrare:  Ep.  19,  9  nisi  ilium  (sc.  Maecenatem)  enervasset  felicitas,  imm, 
castrasset.  Compare  the  expression  castrata  res  publica  which  is  criticized  for 
vulgarity  by  Cicero,  De  Or.  3,  41,  164,  and  Quintilian,  Inst.  Orat.  8,  6,  15. 
Martial,  1,  35,  14,  used  the  verb  in  the  sense  'expurgate,'  with  libellos  as  object. 
See  also  Pliny,  N.  H.  11,  60  velut  castratis  viribus,  and  Claudian,  Eutr.  1,  192 
(avaritiam). 

(b)  LIFE,  DEATH,  BURIAL 

It  is  very  significant  that  the  great  majority  of  the  metaphors 
under  this  head  are  connected  with  death  and  not  life.  This  is 
quite  in  accord  with  the  undertone  of  gloom  which  runs  through 
all  of  Seneca's  writings,  and  with  the  creed  of  a  man  whose 
ultimate  source  of  comfort  is  the  reflection  that  death  is  always 
at  hand  as  a  means  of  escape  from  pain  or  trouble.  The  only 
examples  which  I  have  observed  of  metaphors  connected  with 
LIFE  are: 


Life,  Death,  Burial  37 

vita  :  Ep.  45,  10  ecce  tota  mihi  vita  mentitur.  This  may  be  regarded  as 
properly  a  metonymy,  vita  standing  for  viventes.  The  meaning  is  'the  whole 
world  lies  to  me.'  Vita,  like  the  Greek  ptos,  in  the  sense  of  *  the  living,  man- 
kind, the  world '  belongs  to  poetry  and  post-Augustan  prose.  Cf.  Tib.  2,  1,  37  ; 
Mart.  8,  3,  20  ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  8,  48  and  13,  89.  See  also  HILDEBRAND'S  note  on 
Apul.  Met.  4,  21,  and  cf.  the  editors  on  Cic.  Div.  1,  39,  86.  Ep.  101,  10  singulos 
dies  singulas  vitas  puta. 

vivere  :  Ep.  104,  21  ad  meliores  transi :  cum  Catonibus  vive,  cum  Laelio,  cum 
Tuberone  .  .  .  Vive  cum  Chrysippo,  cum  Posidonio.  The  meaning  is,  study  the 
lives  and  writings  of  these  men. 

vivus :  Ep.  35,  3,  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  pleasure  derived  from  friends, 
even  when  they  are  absent ;  but  their  actual  presence  and  conversation  habet 
aliquid  vivae  voluptatis. 

superstes  :  Ep.  83,  24  (of  the  man  who  sits  out  all  the  rest  at  a  drinking-bout) 
superstes  toti  convivio.  Cf.  Ep.  30,  5,  cited  under  prosequi,  p.  38. 

From  DEATH  itself  come  the  following  metaphors  : 

animam  egerere:  Ep.  54,  2,  other  diseases  are  aegrotarc;  asthma  is  animam 
egerere.  This  reading,  based  on  two  good  MSS.,  seems  correct ;  but  see  Hense,  ap. 
crit,  for  variants. 

cadere  :  Ep.  115,  10  verus  rerum  honor  cecidit. 

interitus  :  Ep.  91,  9  totarum  urbium  interitus.  This  whole  passage  is  interest- 
ing because  of  the  number  of  different  phrases,  many  of  them  metaphorical,  used 
to  indicate  the  destruction  of  cities. 

mori :  Ep.  27,  2  (vitia  as  subject).  Ep.  78,  4,  Seneca  says  that,  when  he  was 
about  to  leave  surviving  friends,  he  did  not  consider  that  he  was  dying,  because 
he  would  live  through  them.  Ep.  78,  11  (desideria  as  subject). 

mors  :  Ep.  58,  33  plurimum  enim  refert,  vitam  aliquis  extendat  an  mortem, 
Ep.  58,  37  mortes  meras  lecturus  es  (of  a  letter  on  "  Age  and  Death").  Ep.  77, 
18  ista  vita  non  mors  est  ?  To  explain  his  meaning,  Seneca  goes  on  to  relate  how 
Caesar,  when  an  old  captive  was  begging  him  for  death,  replied  "Nunc  enim 
vivis?"  Ep.  82,  3  otium  sine  litteris  mors  est.  Ep.  93,  3  non  vixit  iste,  sed  in 
vita  moratus  est,  nee  sero  mortuus  est,  sed  diu.  Octoginta  annis  vixit.  Interest, 
mortem  eius  ex  quo  die  numeres.  Ep.  122,  3  ( of  men  who  turn  day  into  night 
and  night  into  day  by  their  revels)  et  hi  mortem  timent,  in  quam  se  vivi  condi- 
derunt  ? 

mortalis :  Ep.  58,  29  mundum  ipsum,  non  minus  mortalem  quam  nos  sumus. 
Ep.  66,  11  satorum  vero  animaliumque  virtutes  cum  mortales  sint.  Ep.  109,  14 
haec  civilia  et  domestica  .  .  .  et,  ut  ita  dicam,  mortal ia. 

inmortalis:  Ep.  81,  24,  the  pleasure  of  remembering  a  joy  one  has  received 
inmortale  est  et  adsiduum.  Ep.  98,  9  '  Metrodorus  says  ' '  every  human  good  is 
mortal,"  but  the  genuine  good  does  not  die,  that  is,  wisdom  and  virtue ; '  hoc  unum 
contingit  inmortale  mortalibus. 

morticinus :  Ep.  122,  4  et  in  vivis  caro  morticina  est  (he  is  speaking  of  those 
who  are  killing  themselves  by  late  banquets).  Cf.  Plaut.  Pers.  283. 

mortifer :  Ep.  49,  9,  after  comparing  the  folly  of  a  man  in  an  assaulted  city 
who  should  spend  his  time  in  sophistic  quibbles,  with  the  philosopher  who  de- 


38  Metaphor  and   Comparison  in  Seneca 

votes  his  attention  to  them,  Seneca  says,  'in  that  case,  however,  if  besieged,  I 
should  be  threatened  by  danger  from  without,— a  wall  would  separate  me  from 
the  enemy  : '  nunc  mortifera  mecum  sunt. 

mortuus  :  Ep.  60,  4,  gluttons  are  to  be  reckoned  not  as  men  but  as  animals  ; 
some  of  them  even  as  among  the  dead. 

praemortuus  :  Ep.  58,  33  (of  a  man  physically  broken  down)  praemortuum 
corpus  est. 

perire  :  Ep.  74,  23  (vclocitas,  subject).  Ep.  74,  24  (bonum).  Ep.  74,  30  (con- 
cordia).  Ep.  81,  1  (beneficia).  Ep.  95,  1  verbum  publicum  (of  a  proverb  he  is 
going  to  quote)  perire  non  patior. 

In  Ep.  66,  42-44,  there  is  quite  an  extended  and  well- 
balanced  comparison  between  death  and  "the  Good,"  the  idea 
being  that  in  neither  is  the  essential  character  changed  by  circum- 
stances. 

From  KILLING,  the  only  tropical  expression  which  I  have 
noted  is  Ep.  94,  31  si  tamen  illam  (sc.  indolem)  diutina  pestis 
(used  here  in  a  moral  sense)  nou  interfecit  nee  enecuit. 

Several  metaphorical  expressions  are  derived  from  BURIAL 
CEREMONIES,  namely: 

conclamare :  Ep.  52,  13,  when  a  philosopher  is  surrounded  by  an  admiring 
crowd,  non  laudatur  ille  nunc,  .  .  .  sed  condamatur. 

conponere :  Ep.  30,  5  (see  prosequi}. 

deplorare  :  Ep.  24,  7  (speaking  of  the  fall  of  the  Kepublic)  deploratae  sunt  res 
generis  humani. 

efferre  :  Ep.  99,  4  cum  amico  effers  amicitiam?  Ep.  99,  24  memoriam  cum 
corporibus  efferre  .  .  .  inhumani  animi  est.  Cf,  Ep.  12,  8,  which  tells  how  Pa- 
cuvius,  when  returning  from  a  banquet,  used  to  have  the  attendants  beside  his 
litter  chant  " /Se/S/wrcu  ;"  and  Seneca  adds  "nullo  non  se  die  extulit." 

exequiae:  Ep.  70,  10  (of  Drusus  Libo,  when  detected  in  a  conspiracy  against 
Tiberius)  cum  aeger  a  senatu  in  lectica  relatus  esset  non  sane  frequentibus  ex- 
equiis,  omnes  enim  necessarii  deseruerant  impie  iam  non  reum,  sed  funus.  The 
meaning  of  the  whole  passage  is  that  his  friends  abandoned  him,  thinking  his  fate 
was  sealed. 

iusta  'obsequies':  Ep.  122,  3  non  convivantur,  sed  iusta  sibi  faciunt ;  where 
the  word-play  in  convivantur  strengthens  the  antithesis. 

prosequi :  Ep.  30,  5  Bassus  noster  videbatur  mihi  prosequi  se  et  conponere  et 
vivere  tamquam  superstes  sibi  et  sapienter  ferre  desiderium  sui.  See  also  under 
"Travelling  by  Land,"  p.  120. 

spectare  foras  :  Ep.  12,  3,  on  returning  to  his  old  home,  Seneca  fails  to  recog- 
nize his  aged  porter,  and  asks  ' '  Quis  est  ...  iste  decrepitus  et  merito  ad  ostium 
admotus?  Foras  enim  spectat ;"  referring  to  the  custom  of  placing  a  corpse  with 
its  feet  turned  toward  the  door,  and  involving  a  grim  jest  upon  the  old  man's  sta- 
tion at  the  entrance. 


Health  and  Sickness  39 

vitalia,  'grave-clothes':  Ep.  99,  22  quam  multis  vitalia emuntur  !  This  seems 
to  be  a  euphemism  for  mortualia,  according  to  Petr.  77  fin.  ;  which,  with  the 
present  passage,  are  the  only  places  cited  for  the  use  of  the  word  in  this  sense  ;  but 
compare  Petr.  42  vital!  lecto,  '  death-bed.' 

In  Ep.  49,  1,  Seneca  says  that  familiar  places  stir  dormant 
memories,  as  a  slave  of  the  deceased,  a  garment,  or  the  house, 
renews  the  grief  of  mourners. 

Ep.  122  contains  two  forceful  similes  from  funeral  customs. 
In  sect.  3  it  is  declared  that  revellers  who  turn  night  into  day 
are  not  banqueting,  but  celebrating  their  own  funerals ; — though 
even  the  dead  have  their  funeral  rites  in  the  day-time.  In  sect. 
10,  Seneca  says  t  to  my  mind,  such  men  occupy  the  position  of 
dead  men ;  for  those  who  live  by  torches  and  tapers  are  not  far 
from  a  funeral,  and  that,  too,  a  sad  one.'  The  reference  is  to  the 
custom  of  holding  the  funerals  of  those  who  died  prematurely 
(funera  acerbd)  at  night,  by  torch-light  (ad  faces  et  cereos).  Cf. 
Verg.  6,  429  ;  Sen.  Dial.  10,  20 ;  Tac.  A.  13,  17. 

Finally,  in  more  direct  connection  with  the  grave,  may  be 
mentioned : 

condere :  Ep.  83,  23  Alexandrum  .  .  .  intemperantia  bibendi  .  .  .  condidit. 
Ep.  92,  35,  nature  has  seen  to  it  that  no  one  should  be  unburied  ;  even  him,  whom 
cruelty  has  cast  forth,  dies  condet.  Ep.  122,  3  (same  context  as  the  passage  quoted 
in  the  preceding  paragraph)  do  these  men  fear  death  in  quam  se  vivi  condiderunt  ? 

sepultura  :  Ep.  82,  3,  leisure  without  literature  is  death,  et  hominis  vivi  sepultura., 

parentare  :  Ep.  12,  8  Pacuvius  .  .  .  cum  vino  et  illis  funebribus  epulis  sibi 
parentaverat.  Cf.  Ep.  122,  3  and  efferre  above. 

situs  :  Ep.  55,  4,  as  often  as  Seneca  went  past  the  house  of  Vatia,  who  had  with- 
drawn himself  from  public  duties  to  live  in  luxurious  indolence,  he  used  to  say 
"Vatia  hie  situs  est." 

(c)  HEALTH  AND  SICKNESS 

Seneca  was  especially  fond  of  deriving  TROPES  AND  COMPARI- 
SONS from  this  sphere.  An  interesting  discussion  of  this  subject  is 
to  be  found  in  the  article  by  K.  F.  H.  Marx,  which  is  referred  to 
in  my  Introduction.  He  calls  attention  not  only  to  the  knowledge 
of  medicine  and  disease  which  Seneca  displays,  but  also  to  the 
skill  with  which  he  uses  this  knowledge  in  illustrating  his  moral 
and  philosophical  theses.  To  the  examples  which  I  shall  give  in 


40  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

this  division  should  be  added  those  on  p.  100  ff.  under  the  title 
"  Medicine  and  Surgery." 

First  to  be  noted  are  words  pertaining  to  HEALTH.  These 
include : 

robur :  Ep.  10,  3  verba  .  .  .  roboris  plena.  Ep.  92,  10  voluptas  .  .  .  omne 
robur  (sc.  animi)  emollit. 

robuslus :  Ep.  114,  22  oratio  .  .  .  robusta,  fortis,  virilis. 

salubris :  Ep.  51,  4  non  tantum  corpori,  sed  etiam  moribus  salubrem  locum 
eligere.  Ep.  95,  36  salutaria  (in  a  moral  sense)  in  transitu  rapuit. 

salvus  :  Ep.  99,  20  salva  .  .  .  auctoritate.  Ep.  114,  16  pudore  salvo.  Ep.  117, 
1  salva  gratia  .  .  .  salva  conscientia.  These  phrases  are  all  in  the  ablative 
absolute. 

sanitas:  Ep.  50,  4,  our  trouble  is  within,  in  our  very  vitals,  et  ideo  difficulter 
ad  sanitatem  pemenimus,  quia  nos  aegrotare  nescimus  (the  application  is  to  the  moral 
sphere).  Ep.  53,  8  vitia  sua  confiteri  sanitatis  indicium  est. 

sanus  :  Ep.  88,  29,  temperance  rules  pleasure  et  ad  sanum  modum  redigit.  Ep. 
94,  5,  a  man  can  only  be  reformed  by  expelling  the  error  which  beclouds  his 
mind,  otherwise  doces  ilium,  quid  sano  faciendum  sit,  non  efficis  sanum.  Cf.  Ep. 
108,  4.  We  have  a  somewhat  troublesome  expression  in  Ep.  123,  7,  where  Seneca 
says,  '  there  is  not  a  homely  slave  in  your  retinue,'  cuius  sana  fades  medicamentum 
desideret.  Haakh  seems  to  take  sana  as  predicative,  by  his  rendering  "  um  erhal- 
ten  zu  werden;"  but  Baillard  probably  comes  nearer  the  true  meaning  of  the 
passage  by  his  translation  "on  n'a  pas  un  de  ces  frais  visages  auxquels  il  faut  un 
pre*servatif." 

valere  :  Ep.  15,  1  si  philosopharis,  bene  est.     Valere  autem  hoc  demum  est. 

validus :  Ep.  93,  5  aliquando  .  .  .  validi  sideris  (i.  e..  the  sun)  fulgor  per 
nubila  emicuit. 

vegetus :  Ep.  71,  25  adulescentem  incorruptum  et  ingenio  vegetum.  Cf .  Cic. 
Tusc.  1,  17,  41  (mens)  ;  id.  Div.  1,  29,  61  (pars  rationis);  Livy,  6,  22,  7 
(ingenium);  Sen.  Phaed.  460  (libertas);  Ter.  Maur.  De  Litt.  (Keil,  G.  L.,  6,  p. 
360)  1166  (littera)  Auson.  Eph.  Ord.  Coq.  3  (line  151  Peiper)  (gustus). 

vigere :  Ep.  114,  1  aliquando  inflata  explicatio  ( '  style  of  speech ' )  vigeret. 
Ep.  114,  17  Sallustio  vigente  (uals  Sallust  in  der  Bliithe  war,"  Haakh). 

Here  we  may  also  add  Ep.  14,  11  numquam  in  tantum  convalescet  nequitia. 

Health  is  used  in  several  comparisons.  In  Ep.  14,  15  we  are 
told  that  it  is  as  impossible  to  promise  that  a  man  who  follows  a 
correct  plan  of  life  will  be  safe,  as  it  is  to  promise  good  health  in 
a  man  of  temperate  habits.  Ep.  28,  6  states  that,  as  some  places 
are  trying  even  for  the  most  robust  health,  so  some  places,  for 
example  the  forum,  are  hardly  healthy  for  the  good  mind,  not  to 
say  for  one  which  is  still  imperfect  and  only  convalescent.  The 
comparison  in  Ep.  66,  40  is  to  the  effect  that  undoubtedly  health 


Health  and  Sickness  41 

which  is  exposed  to  no  danger  is  better  than  that  which  has  been 
brought,  by  exertion  and  patience,  out  of  severe  diseases ;  so  there 
is  no  doubt  that  joy  is  a  greater  good  than  a  mind  struggling  to 
endure  wounds  or  fire.  Other  examples  belonging  here  are  Ep. 
72,  5-7;  74,  23;  117,  26;  and  120,  5. 

Next  we  may  consider  words  indicating  SICKNESS  IN  GENERAL  : 

aeger:  Ep.  2,  1  (animus);  cf.  Ep.  15,  1  and  74,  34.  Ep.  25,  2  (applied  to 
men,  in  a  moral  sense);  cf.  Ep.  27,  1 ;  28,  3  ;  68,  9  non  medicus,  sed  aeger  hie 
habitat.  Ep.  94, 13  (mens);  cf.  Ep.  50,  9  and  104,  14.  Ep.  94,  74  aegrae  fortunae 
sana  consilia.  Ep.  114,  11  (civitas);  cf.  Sen.  Thyest  240  (domus). 

causarius  :  Ep.  68,  7  in  animo  nostro  sunt  quaedam  quasi  causariae  partes, 
quibus  adhibenda  curatio  est ;  cf.  Pliny,  N.  H.  23,  75  (dentes)  and  25,  71  causarii 
vel  latere  vel  faucibus,  and  Sen.  N.  Q.  1,  praef.  4  (corpus). 

morbidus  :  Ep.  78,  25  magisque  animo  quam  corpore  morbidis. 

morbus  :  Ep.  40,  13  isto  morbo  (i.  e..  a  faulty  style).  Ep.  75,  10  morbos 
animi ;  cf.  sections  6-12,  and  Ep.  106,  6.  Ep.  79,  4,  morbo  .  .  .  tuo,  referring  to 
the  curiosity  of  Lucilius  and  his  desire  to  write  a  poem  about  Aetna  ;  cf.  our 
phrase  'you  have  a  weakness  for.'  Ep.  83,  20.  Ep.  85,  10.  Ep.  104,  1  non 
corporis  esse,  sed  loci  morbum.  Ep.  108,  28  senectus  enim  insanabilis  morbus 
est ;  cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  575.  Ep.  114,  25.  Ep.  116,  1.  Ep.  122,  18.  For  the 
corresponding  employment  of  vbaos  in  the  moral  sphere,  with  metaphors  in  com- 
mon use,  conversational  as  well  as  literary,  prose  as  well  as  poetry,  see  Blumner, 
p.  xii. 

lues  :  Ep.  95,  29,  applied  to  corruption  of  morals. 

insanandus  :  Ep.  123,  16  superstitio  error  insanandus  est.  Other  readings  here 
are  "infantis,"  "insanus,"  "  insanientis,"  "insani,"  "insaniae  vicinus,"  "  in- 
fandus,"  "infanmns"  and  "infamantis."  As  far  as  the  sense  goes,  either 
insanus  or  infandus  would  be  better  than  the  text ;  but  they  would  be  hard  to 
reconcile  with  the  MSS.1 

Comparisons  derived  from  sickness  are  numerous.  Examples 
are:  Ep.  6,  1,  it  is  evidence  that  a  mind  is  improving,  when  it 
sees  its  own  faults.  Some  sick  men  have  cause  to  rejoice  when 
they  perceive  that  they  are  sick.  Ep.  7,  1,  that  which  happens  to 
sick  men,  so  weakened  by  long  sickness  that  they  cannot  be 
brought  out  of  the  house  without  injury,  happens  to  us,  whose 
minds  are  recovering  from  a  long  sickness.  Ep.  17,  12,  as  it 
makes  no  difference  whether  you  place  a  sick  man  on  a  couch  of 

*A.  J.  KRONENBERG  in  Class.  Quart.  I  (July,  1907),  p.  211,  suggests  that  insanus 
was  changed  in  copying  to  insanandus  through  the  influence  of  the  following 
amandos. 


42  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

wood  or  of  gold,  for  wherever  you  take  him  he  takes  his  sickness 
with  him;  so  it  makes  no  difference  whether  a  sick  mind  is 
placed  in  wealth  or  poverty,  its  evil  follows  it.  Ep.  25,  3,  it  is  a 
good  time  to  approach  a  man  who  is  to  be  reformed,  dum  inter- 
quiescit,  dum  emendato  similis  est.  Ep.  53,  9,  when  you  are  sick, 
you  break  off  all  business  and  social  duties  and  devote  your  whole 
attention  to  getting  rid  of  the  disease.  The  same  should  be  done 
when  the  mind  is  diseased.  Lay  aside  all  hindrances  and  take 
time  to  gain  bonam  mentem.  Ep.  56,  10,  diseases  are  easier  to 
heal  when  they  become  manifest  and  show  their  strength ;  avarice 
also  and  ambition  and  other  evils  of  the  mind  are  most  dangerous 
when  they  subside  into  seeming  health.  Ep.  83,  26,  as  long-con- 
tinued sickness  makes  men  peevish  and  furious  at  small  offenses, 
so  continual  drunkenness  renders  the  mind  savage.  Ep.  85,  9, 
moderation  in  passions  should  be  regarded  in  the  same  light  as 
if  one  should  say  that  a  person  ought  to  be  sick  with  moderation. 
This  idea  is  expanded  in  sect.  12.  Ep.  85,  29,  the  philosopher 
still  feels  pain,  but  he  does  not  fear  it;  unconquered,  he  looks 
down  from  above  on  his  own  sufferings.  His  state  of  mind  is  the 
same  as  that  of  men  who  are  encouraging  a  sick  friend.  Ep.  94, 
22,  Aristo  says,  "it  is  foolish  to  tell  a  sick  man  what  he  ought  to 
do  if  he  were  well,  when  you  should  restore  his  health,  without 
which  instructions  are  useless."  But  some  rules  are  applicable  to 
both  sick  and  well,  as,  to  avoid  over-eating.  So  poor  man  and 
rich  have  some  rules  in  common.  Ep.  94,  24,  Aristo  says, 
"advice  does  little  good  when  applied  to  serious  faults."  Nor 
does  medicine  conquer  incurable  diseases;  yet  it  is  employed  to 
alleviate.  Suppose  that  the  full  power  of  philosophy  cannot  draw 
forth  inveterate  disease  from  the  mind ;  though  it  may  not  heal 
everything,  it  does  not  follow  that  it  heals  nothing. 

From  the  EFFECTS  OF  DISEASE  AND  EXEETION,  I  have  found 
the  following  metaphors : 

effetus :  Ep.  90,  44  mundus  nondum  effetus. 

elanguescere  :  Ep.  114,  3  si  animus  elanguit. 

emarcere  (-escere):  Ep.  112,  3  cmarcuit,  in  a  moral  sense.  This  verb  is  very 
rare,  being  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Pliny,  N.  H.  15,  121  (auctoritas),  and 
ecclesiastical  Latin,  usually  in  a  tropical  sense. 


Health  and  Sickness  43 

enervatus :  Ep.  114,  8  (of  the  style  of  Maecenas)  sensus  miri,  magni  quidem 
saepe,  sed  enervati  dum  exeunt. 

enervis  :  Ep.  92,  8  enervem  et  abiectam  (partem  animi);  cf.  Sen.  Thy.  176 
ignave,  iners,  enervis. 

fatigare:  Ep.  12,  5  quam  dulce  est  cupiditates  fatigasse  ac  reliquisse.     Ep.  56, 

9  (ambitio  fatigata).     Ep.  53,  12  quaedam  (tela)  defetigat  (philosophia). 
inbecillitas  :  Ep.  59,  6  parabolis  .  .  .  quas  existimo  necessarias  .  .  .  ut  inbecil- 

litatis  nostrae  adminicula  sint. 

inbecillus  :  Ep.  94,  19  inbecillam  aciem  (equivalent  to  oculum). 

laborare  :  Ep.  58,  34  animum  laborantem.  Ep.  76,  22  virtus  laborabit.  Ep. 
84,  11  (ambitus)  laborat  invidia.  Ep.  114,  2  si  disciplina  civitatis  laboravit. 
Ep.  114,  9  supellectili  laboratur.  The  reading  has  not  yet  been  satisfactorily 
established  for  Ep.  22,  17,  where  Hense  prints  "  causa  autem  haec  est,  quod 
inanes  omnium  bonorum  sumus,  f  vitae  laboramus  ;"  and  in  his  ap.  crit.  suggests 
the  insertion  of  "iactura,"  comparing  Ep.  1,  1  ;  which  is  also  supported  by  effluxit 
in  the  next  clause  of  this  passage.  But  see  the  critical  notes  of  Schweighiiuser. 
I  find  no  instances  of  the  dative  after  laborare  in  the  sense  'be  concerned  for, 
anxious  about,'  although  it  sometimes  takes  that  case  when  it  means  'toil  for, 
serve.' 

laboriosus :  Ep.  52,  7  durum  ac  laboriosum  ingenium  (meaning  '  which 
requires  effort  to  bring  it  to  perfection ' ) . 

lassare  :  Ep.  52,  5  alterum  (aedificium)  fundamenta  lassarunt  (see  Hense, 
ap.  crit.,  for  variant  readings).  Ep.  68,  13  (aetas)  vitia  .  .  .  lassavit.  Ep.  88, 

10  patrimonium  tabularios  lassat. 

lassus:  Ep.  26,  1  senectus  lassae  aetatis,  non  fractae,  nomen  est;  cf.  Ep.  101, 
4.  Ep.  94,  62  nee  substitit  usquam  lassa  crudelitas. 

macies  :  Ep.  88,  19  corpora  in  sagina,  animi  in  macie  et  veterno  sunt. 

marcere :  Ep.  89,  18  illos  (mores)  conpesce,  marcentia  in  te  excita.  Ep.  114, 
23  artes  quoque  eius  (animi)  actusque  marcent.  Marcere  is  not  common  in  a 
literal  sense,  and  the  examples  are  almost  exclusively  poetic.  In  a  tropical  sense, 
there  are  a  few  cases  in  prose,  but  it  is  not  uncommon  in  the  poets. 

requies  :  Ep.  30,  12,  as  a  synonym  for  death. 

In  Ep.  122,  4,  the  colorless  complexion  of  those  who  spend 
their  nights  in  revelling  is  said  to  be  a  more  dangerous  symptom 
than  the  pallor  of  those  who  have  some  real  disease. 

In  this  connection,  we  may  observe  the  following  metaphors 
from  WOUNDS  AND  INJURIES  : 

iniuria:  Ep.  90,  17  loca,  quae  vel  iniuria  temporis  vel  alio  quolibet  casu 
excavata  in  specum  recesserunt. 

laceratio  :  Ep.  74,  18,  (commoda)  sine  ulla  nostri  laceratione  discedant. 

lacessere:  Ep.  13,  3  virtus  lacessita  (in  the  context,  'joining  battle  with' 
fortune  is  described  by  comparison  with  an  athlete). 

laedere  :  Ep.  119,  15  oculos  hoc  meos  laedit  (i.  e.,  'I  don't  like  the  looks  of 
it').  Cf.  oculidolent,  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  251. 


44  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

plaga :  Ep.  99,  29  non  te  pudet  luctum  voluptate  sanare  ?  Severius  ista  plaga 
curanda  est. 

recrudescere :  Ep.  56,  9  recrudescit  ambitio.  Ep.  69,  3  nihil  .  .  .  facilius  quam 
amor  recrudescit.  This  verb  is  properly  used  of  wounds. 

suppurare:  Ep.  59,  17,  pleasures  forced  upon  the  body  beyond  its  capacity 
suppurare  coeperunt.  Ep.  80,  6  gravis  et  suppurata  tristitia.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  10, 
12,  1  infami  lucro  et  quandoque  suppuraturo.  In  this  tropical  sense,  I  find  no 
examples  of  suppurare  outside  of  Seneca. 

vulnus :  Ep.  99,  1  magnum  vulnus  (referring  to  the  death  of  Marcellus'  son). 
Ep.  104,  12  nee  remedia  vulneribus  oppones  (referring  to  the  loss  of  friends). 
Cf.  Ep.  9,  2  invulnerabilem  animum. 

A  series  of  implied  comparisons  in  Ep.  2,  3,  to  illustrate  the 
evils  of  unsystematic  reading,  includes  "  a  wound  does  not  heal, 
upon  which  many  remedies  are  tried.7'  In  Ep.  104,  18  Seneca 
says:  "when  one  has  broken  his  leg,  or  wrenched  a  joint,  he  does 
not  get  into  a  carriage  or  a  ship,  but  sends  for  a  doctor  to  set  the 
broken  part  or  replace  what  has  been  dislocated.  Well,  then,  do 
you  suppose  that  change  of  place  can  heal  the  mind,  broken  and 
dislocated  at  many  points  ?  " 

Metaphors  from  SPECIAL  DISEASES  and  PHASES  OF  DISEASE 
include  the  following  examples : 

contractio  :  Ep.  82,  3  'Well  then,  you  say,  isn't  it  better  to  lie  idle  thus  than 
to  wallow  in  that  vortex  of  duties?  Both  things  are  deplorable,'  contractio  et 
torpor.  Pauly  renders  contractio  by  "  Spannung"  and  Baillard  by  "les  convul- 
sions." Cf.  contractio  nervorum,  Scrib.  Comp.  Med.  255;  and  Pliny,  N.  H.  20, 
191  (infantibus  contractiones  sentientibus). 

nausia  (nausea):  Ep.  16,  3,  the  object  of  philosophy  is  not  ut  dematur  otio 
nausia.  Ep.  24,  26  huius  rei  (sc.  vitae)  nausea. 

evomare:  Ep.  51,  1  plurima  loca  evomant  ignem.  Cf.  Cic.  Cat.  2,  1,  2  (urbs 
pestem);  id.  Phil.  5,  7,  20  (orationem);  id.  Am.  23,  87  (virus  acerbitatis) ;  also 
Ter.  Ad.  312  (iram)  and  elsewhere  in  Terence.  In  Ep.  95,  28,  describing  the 
confusion  of  different  kinds  of  food  put  before  the  guests  at  fashionable  banquets, 
Seneca  says  :  "  non  esset  confusior  vomentium  cibus." 

tumor  :  Ep.  87,  32,  genuine  good  things  extollunt  quidem  et  dilatant  (sc.  animos), 
sed  sine  tumore.  Ep.  104,  20  (in  the  sense  of  'excitement');  cf.  Sen.  Dial.  3,  17, 
4  and  5,  2,  5 ;  id.  Thyest.  519  ;  id.  Phaed.  137 ;  id.  Phoen.  586  (in  plural).  In 
a  different  sense,  as  a  rhetorical  term,  tumor  is  post-Augustan  and  especially 
frequent  in  Quintilian  ;  cf.  Sen.  Ben.  2,  11,  6  (verborum). 

tumidus  :  Ep.  69,  5  vitia  .  .  .  licentia  tumida.  Ep.  84,  11  ambitum  :  tumida 
res  est,  vana,  ventosa.  Ep.  90,  28  inter  magna  quid  intersit  et  tumida. 

ulcus  :  Ep.  68,  8  quid  in  otio  facio?  Ulcus  meum  (sc.  animi)  euro  ...  in 
pectore  ipso  collectio  et  vomica  est.  Collectio  as  here  used  is  a  medical  term,  like 
the  English  '  gathering.'  Vomica,  'an  encysted  tumor,'  is  very  rare  in  a  tropical 


Health  and  Sickness  45 

sense,  and  is  censured  by  Quintilian,  Inst.  Or.  8,  6,  15  ;  cf.  Livy,  25,  12,  9, 
quoted  from  an  old  prophecy  also  given  by  Macrob.  Sat.  1,  17,  28,  and  Suet.  Aug. 
65,  where  Augustus  calls  Agrippina  and  the  two  Julias  tris  vomicas.  In  Ep.  98, 
15  ulcus  is  used  of  the  pain  resulting  from  losses.  Eruptions  of  the  skin  are 
employed  in  a  comparison,  Ep.  72,  5  '  some  discomforts  are  on  the  outside ;  as 
sometimes,  on  a  body  otherwise  strong  and  healthy,  there  are  surface  eruptions  and 
pimples,  but  no  deep-seated  evil.' 

verminatio :  Ep.  78,  9  omnium  istorum  (i.  e.,  gout  and  rheumatism )  prima 
verminatio  vexat.  Ep.  95,  17  cerebri  exaestuantis  verminationes.  Properly 
verminatio  is  the  disease  of  '  worms';  whence  it  is  transferred  to  a  'crawling, 
itching  pain'.  Lexx.  cite  only  these  two  examples.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  7,  17,  4 
verminatur  (podagra).  In  the  original  sense,  it  occurs  in  Pliny,  N.  H.  28,  180 
and  30,  144. 

stupor;  Ep.  42,  7,  in  the  sense  of  'stupidity'.  There  are  some  classical 
instances  of  a  similar  meaning,  but,  when  used  metaphorically  ,  it  usually  signi- 
fies 'astonishment.'  Cat.  17,  21  (meus  stupor  for  ego  stiipidus)  and  Phaedr.  1,  13, 
12  (stupor  corvi  for  corvus  stupidus)  are  noteworthy. 

torpor:    Ep.  82,  3  (see  contractio). 

veternus  :  'drowsiness.'  literally  'oldness,'  then,  as  a  medical  term,  'somno- 
lence, lethargy'  as  a  disease  of  age.  Is  not  uncommon  in  a  tropical  sense, 
although  not  found  in  Cicero.  Examples  are  given  from  Caelius  ap.  Cic.  Fam. 
8,  6,  4  (quoted  by  Cicero  in  Fam.  2,  13,  3);  Horace  (Epistles);  Catullus  ;  Vergil 
(Georgics);  Columella ;  Apuleius.  In  Seneca's  Epistles  we  find  88,  19  vomito- 
res,  quorum  corpora  in  sagina,  animi  in  macie  et  veterno  sunt ;  and  115,  7 
aerumnosi  animi  veternum  perspiciemus.  Veternosus  occurs  in  Ep.  82,  19  legem 
dialecticam  et .  .  .  illos  artificii  veternosissimi  nodos.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  3,  20,  3 
("Ira,  1,  16,  25"  given  by  H.  Lex.  is  a  false  reference)  (animus);  Aug.  Ep. 
48,  2  (consuetude);  Sid.  Ep.  1,  1  (genus  dicendi);  Cassiod.  Var.  1,  25 
(senectus). 

In  addition  to  these  metaphors,  there  are  the  following 
comparisons : 

Catarrh  :  Ep.  75,  12,  the  passions,  when  frequent  and  neglected,  cause  disease  ; 
as  a  single  attack  of  catarrh  (destillatio)  causes  a  cough,  but  when  it  becomes 
chronic,  leads  to  consumption. 

Consumption  :  Ep.  91,  5,  phthisis  which  may  attack  even  the  most  temperate,  is 
taken  as  an  illustration  of  the  sudden  assaults  oifortuna. 

Fever:  Ep.  53,  6  'a  slight  attack  is  sometimes  unnoticed,  but  when  a  severe 
attack  comes  upon  us,  it  is  recognized  by  even  the  most  hardy.  In  diseases  of  the 
mind,  however,  the  worse  they  are,  the  less  they  are  perceived  by  the  victim.' 
In  the  same  passage,  gout  (podagra)  is  also  used  as  a  comparison,  and  described 
with  greater  detail.  Ep.  85,  4  '  should  we  give  a  man  credit  for  wisdom  when  he 
is  stronger  than  the  weakest,  more  joyful  than  the  most  sorrowful,  more  temperate 
than  the  most  unbridled,  greater  than  the  lowest  ?  Would  you  call  a  man  well, 
because  he  has  only  a  slight  fever?'  Ep.  119,  12  'some  men  have  riches,  as  we 
are  said  to  have  a  fever,  when  really  it  has  us.' 


46  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Chills  :  Ep.  74,  33  '  as,  in  the  body,  there  are  certain  premonitory  symptoms 
of  disease,  such  as  weariness  without  exertion,  unsteadiness,  and  chills  running 
through  the  limbs,  so  the  weak  mind,  long  before  it  succumbs,  is  shaken  by  evils.' 
Observe,  here,  how  the  simile  passes  into  metaphor. 

Gout :  Ep.  53,  6  (see  under  "  Fever,"  above). 

As  connected  with  RECOVERY  FROM  DISEASE,  we  note  the 
following  examples  : 

corroborare  (conr-):  Ep.  88,  29  numquid  ergo  hanc  (i.  e.,  f ortitudinem ) 
liberalia  studia  corroborant?  Ep.  94,  36  admonitio  conroborabit  rectam  .  .  . 
sententiam.  In  a  tropical  sense,  this  verb  is  quite  common  in  Cicero  (Merguet's 
Lexicon  shows  7  examples  in  the  Orations  and  4  in  the  Philosophical  works), 
but  rare  elsewhere. 

evalescere:  Ep.  94,  31  (indoles  naturalis)  adiuta  praeceptis  evalescit,  si  tamen 
illam  diutina  pestis  non  interfecit. 

intermissio  :  Ep.  25,  3  aliis  haec  intermissio  eius  inposuit :  mihi  verba  non  dat. 

interquiescere :  Ep.  25,  3  (of  a  man  who  is  to  be  reformed  by  philosophy) 
1  there  was  no  better  time  to  approach  him  than  this,'  dum  inter  quiescit,  dum 
emendato  simiiis  est. 

reficere :  Ep.  18,  10  voluptas  .  .  .  non  ilia  .  .  .  subinde  reficienda,  sed  stabilis 
et  certa.  Ep.  84,  1  lectio  ingenium  .  .  .  studio  fatigatum  .  .  .  reficit. 

Here  belong  likewise  two  comparisons  :  Ep.  29,  8  'even  if  I 
do  not  remove  his  faults,  I  will  check  them.  They  will  not  cease 
altogether,  but  they  will  leave  off  temporarily  (intermittent).  .  .  . 
Even  this  is  not  to  be  despised,  for,  in  the  case  of  those  who  are 
very  ill,  a  temporary  cessation  of  the  disease  (bona  remissio)  is  a 
substitute  for  entire  recovery.7  Ep.  72,  6  <  There  is  the  same 
difference  between  the  man  of  perfect  wisdom  and  the  man  who 
is  on  the  road  toward  it,  that  there  is  between  one  who  is  entirely 
well  and  one  who  is  coming  out  of  a  severe  and  long  sickness,  in 
whose  case  a  less  severe  attack  (levior  aeessio)  is  a  substitute  for 
entire  recovery.' 

(d)    SLEEP  AND  DREAMS 

This  is  usually  quite  a  favorite  source  for  tropical  expressions ; 
see,  for  example,  Bliimner,  p.  56 ;  Berg,  "  Metaphor  in  Plato," 
p.  20;  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  pp.  121  and  328  and  P.  Langen 
in  Jbb.  125  (1882),  p.  688.  Therefore  the  small  use  which 
Seneca  makes  of  it  is  surprising.  There  are  two  extended 


Periods  of  Life  (Childhood,  Youth,  Age)  47 

comparisons,  leading  to  metaphorical  expressions.  The  first  is 
Ep.  53,  7-8  '  It  is  not  strange  that  faults  of  the  mind  are  felt 
less,  the  worse  they  are.  For  the  man  who  is  dozing  sees  visions 
and  sometimes,  even  while  sleeping,  thinks  that  he  is  asleep,  but 
deep  sleep  extinguishes  even  dreams,  and  buries  the  mind  too 
deeply  for  it  to  have  any  consciousness  of  itself.  Why  does  no 
one  confess  his  own  faults  ?  Because  he  is  in  them.  It  takes  a 
man  who  is  awake  to  tell  of  his  dreams,  and  it  is  a  proof  of 
health  for  one  to  confess  his  faults.  So  then,  let  us  awake,  in 
order  that  we  may  correct  our  errors.  But  only  philosophy  will 
arouse  us, — that  alone  will  shake  off  our  deep  sleep.'  The  other 
instance  is  Ep,  102,  1-2  '  As  one  is  unwelcome  who  wakens  a 
man  when  he  is  seeing  a  pleasant  dream,  for  he  takes  away  a 
pleasure  which,  even  if  false,  has  the  effect  of  reality ;  so  your 
letter  injured  me,  It  recalled  me  from  an  agreeable  train  of 
thought, — I  was  meditating  upon  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  .  .  . 
When  I  received  your  letter,  I  suddenly  awoke  and  lost  my 
beautiful  dream.' 

The  only  other  metaphor  belonging  under  this  head  is  a  quoted 
one  in  Ep.  122,  10,  where  Seneca  relates  how  Tiberius,  hearing  a 
man  who  had  squandered  a  great  patrimony  at  last  confessing 
that  he  was  poor,  replied  "  sero  experrectus  es." 


(e)    PERIODS  OP  LIFE  (CHILDHOOD,   YOUTH,  AGE) 

More  comparisons  than  metaphors  are  derived  from  the  different 
periods  of  human  life;  but  neither  class  is  very  large.  All  that 
I  have  observed  are  : 

aetas  :  Ep.  91,  14  'it  is  one  hundred  years  since  this  colony  was  founded,' 
aetas  ne  homini  quidem  extrema.  Ep.  102,  22  artam  aetatem  sibi  dari  non  sinit 
(sc.  animus  humanus) :  onines,  inquit,  anni  mei  sunt. 

anilis  :  Ep.  94,  2  anilia  habentem  praecepta  (but  the  reading  here  is  doubtful. 
The  form  given  in  the  text  was  adopted  by  Hense  from  Biicheler).  For  use 
of  anilis,  cf.  Otto,  '  *  Sprichworter,"  p.  28  and  Sutphen  (who  follows  Hense's 
reading),  A.  J.  P.  22,  p.  11. 

senectus :  Ep,  71,  13  '  each  of  the  celestial  and  terrestrial  bodies  has  its  own 
old  age.' 


48  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

senescere:  Ep.  26,  2  (vitia  et  vitiorum  ministeria).  Ep.  98,  15  vis  ulceris, 
quam  opto  mehercules  mitigari  et  aut  sanari  aut  stare  et  cum  ipso  (sc.  homine) 
senescere. 

senex  :  Ep.  77,  5  Tullius  Marcellinus  .  .  .  adulescens  quietus  et  cito  senex. 

Childhood  :  Ep.  9,  7  (in  a  series  of  implied  comparisons,  supporting  the 
statement  that  "making  a  friend  is  better  than  having  one")  fructuosior  est 
adulescentia  liberorum,  sed  infantia  dulcior.  Ep.  99,  27  (cited  under  "Boy- 
hood" ).  Ep.  118,  13-14  '  what  is  good  is  according  to  nature  ;  but  other  things 
are  according  to  nature  without  being  good.  The  difference  is  one  of  size.  Some 
things  change  by  growth.  He  was  a  babe  ;  he  has  become  a  youth  ;  his  character 
has  become  different ;  he  is  now  rational,  he  was  then  irrational.'  Ep.  121,  7-8 
'  it  is  not  fear  of  pain  which  impels  animals  to  perform  certain  natural  actions  ; 
they  struggle  to  perform  them  even  in  spite  of  pain.  So  a  baby,  who  desires  to 
stand  erect  and  is  becoming  accustomed  to  walking,  falls  and  each  time,  though 
weeping,  gets  up  again,  until,  through  pain,  he  has  trained  himself  to  that  which 
nature  demands.' 

Boyhood  :  Ep.  99,  27  '  we  should  mingle  pleasure  even  with  pain.  So  we 
comfort  boys  with  a  bit  of  pastry  ;  so  we  still  the  crying  of  babes  with  milk.'  Ep. 
104,  13  '  travel  does  not  of  itself  confer  any  benefit.  It  neither  gives  judgment 
nor  dispels  error.  It  merely  holds  one  for  a  short  time  by  a  new  impression,  like 
a  boy  wondering  at  things  which  he  does  not  understand.'  Ep.  110,  6-7  'the 
confusion  of  our  minds  is  even  is  it  seemed  to  Lucretius  (R.  N.  2,  55-6):  "  nam 
veluti  pueri  trepidant  atque  omnia  caecis  in  tenebris  metuunt,  ita  nos  in  luce 
timemus."  Are  we  not  more  foolish  than  the  boys,  because  we  fear  even  in  the 
light?  But  Lucretius  is  mistaken.  We  are  not  afraid  in  the  light ;  we  turn 
everything  into  darkness.'  Ep.  115,  8  '  we  are  very  like  boys,  who  value  every 
plaything.  They  are  delighted  with  worthless  pebbles  found  on  the  beach,  if  they 
have  varied  colors  ;  we,  with  columns  of  variegated  marble.' 

Young  manhood:  Ep.  9,  7  (cited  under  "Childhood").  Ep.  117,  16  answers 
the  question  'whether  future  wisdom  is  a  good  thing?'  by  asking  'does  boyhood 
have  any  consciousness  of  future  young  manhood,  either  in  energy  or  strength  ? ' 
Ep.  74,  21  '  desire  for  glory  has  often  impelled  youthful  minds  to  scorn  fire  and 
sword ;  in  proportion  as  reason  is  braver  and  more  steadfast  than  this,  it  will  go 
forth  more  strenuously  through  fears  and  dangers.'  This  same  passage  contains 
a  comparison  from  the  love  of  animals  for  their  young. 

(f)   SENSES  AND  PERCEPTIONS 

Such  extensive  use  is  made  by  Seneca  of  figurative  expressions 
connected  with  the  senses,  that  I  shall  distribute  the  examples 
according  to  the  particular  faculty  involved,  including  under 
"  Sight "  the  idea  of  'showing/  as  well  as  the  opposite  notion  of 
'blindness;7  and  including  under  "Hearing"  'deafness7  and 
expressions  connected  with  speech  and  the  voice.  The  examples 
are  as  follows : 


Senses  and  Perceptions  49 


(1)   In  General 

sentire  :  Ep.  76,  13  navis  .  .  .  non  sentiens  ventum.  Ep.  117,  26  nee  messem 
futuram  iam  sentiant  horrea.  Ep.  122,  1  detrimentum  iam  dies  sensit  (i.  e.,  the 
days  are  getting  shorter). 

(2)   Sight 

apparere  :  Ep.  19,  2  otium  tuum  non  emineat,  sed  appareat.  Ep.  84,  9 
singulorum  .  .  .  latent  voces  (in  a  chorus),  omnium  apparent  (note,  here,  the 
transfer  of  verbs  of  sight  to  the  sphere  of  sound).  Ep.  92,  29  apparens  malitia. 

cernere:  Ep.  90,  28  vera  simulacra  verasque  facies  cernendas  mentibus.  Ep. 
115,  7  (has  a  long  metaphorical  passage  about  " seeing  the  face  of  the  mind"). 

intueri :  Ep.  76,  32  animum  intuere.  Ep.  98,  2  omnia  quae  fortuna  intuetur 
(which  seems  in  this  case  to  have  the  meaning  'looks  upon  with  favor,  smiles 
upon').  Ep.  100,  3  ipso  dicente  non  vacasset  tibi  partes  intueri  .  .  .  Sed  illud 
quoque  multum  est  primo  aspectu  oculos  occupasse,  etiam  si  contemplatio  diligens 
inventura  est,  quod  arguat. 

observare :  Ep.  22,  3  '  it  takes  one  who  is  wide  awake '  occasionem  observare 
properantem.  Ep.  103,  1  ilia  (sc.  mala)  quae  nos  observant,  quae  captant. 

species:  Ep.  120,  4  virtutis .  .  .  speciem  (which  Haakh  translates  "das 
Bild").  Ep.  120,  5  species  conspicui  alicuius  facti.  Ep.  120,  5  ex  his.  .  . 
speciem  ingentis  boni  traximus.  Ep.  120,  8  mala  interdum  speciem  honesti 
optulere.  Ep.  120,  19  subiret  nos  species  non  usitatae  indolis  (here  also  Haakh 
renders  " das  Bild"  ;  Baillard,  "1'apparition"). 

speciosus :  Ep.  90,  28  magnitudinem  .  .  .  inflatam  .  .  .  et  ex  inani  speciosam. 

aspicere  :  Ep.  49,  3  quidquid  temporis  transiit .  .  .  pariter  aspicitur.  Ep.  85, 
11  (timor)  aspexerit.  Ep.  123,  5  (animus)  molestias  .  .  .  placidus  aspexit. 

aspectus  :  Ep.  100,  3  (see  intueri). 

circumspicere  :  Ep.  16,  7  circumspicies,  quid  haec  epistula  munusculi  attulerit 
(the  use  of  this  verb  in  the  sense  'ponder,  consider'  is  Ciceronian;  here  it 
appears  to  combine  both  the  literal  and  the  metaphorical  meaning).  Ep.  40,  11 
Romanus  sermo  magis  se  circumspicit  et  aestimat.  Ep.  100,  5  cum  circumspex- 
eris  omnia  (of  literary  style);  so  Ep.  100,  11  singula  circumspecta. 

conspicere  :  Ep.  97.  12  bona  conscientia  prodire  vult  et  conspici. 

conspectus ;  Ep.  26,  I  in  conspectu  esse  me  senectutis.  Ep.  70,  1  in  conspec- 
tum  adulescentiae  meae  reductussum.  Ep.  72,  10  (sapientiam)  in  conspectu  .  .  . 
habent.  Ep.  82,  16  conspectum  eius  (i.  e.,  mortis)  accessumque.  Ep.  94,  8 
cum  ilium  in  conspectum  suae  condicionis  adduxeris. 

despicere  :  Ep.  9,  13  animo  .  .  .  despiciente  fortunam.  Ep.  88,  29  fortituda 
.  .  .  terribilia  .  .  .  despicit.  Ep.  92,  32  (animus)  divites  superne  despiciat. 

dispectus  :  Ep.  94,  36  non  statim  sequitur  dispectus  rerum  agendarum  ( '  a  clear 
perception  of  what  should  be  done').  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  4,  10,  1  (officiorum). 
Lexx.  cite  only  Seneca  for  this  word.  Ep.  109,  16  (see  videre). 

inspicere  :  Ep.  30,  9  qualis  esset  eius  (sc.  mortis)  natura  velut  propius  inspec- 
tae.  Ep.  33,  5  (ingenia)  tibi  inspicienda  sunt.  Ep.  44,  1  (philosophia)  stemma 
('pedigree')  non  inspicit.  Ep.  115,  3  si  nobis  animum  boni  viri  liceret  inspicere. 


50  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

inspectio  :  Ep.  65,  23,  in  the  sense  'investigation.'  This  is  a  post- Augustan 
word  and  not  common  in  any  sense  ;  cf.  Antib.7,  I,  p.  755  and  references  there 
given.  Cf.  Sen.  N.  Q.  2,  53,  3  and  probably  ibid.  6,  4,  2,  although  there,  as 
in  Pliny,  Ep.  10,  48  (57),  I  (written  by  Trajan)  inspectatio  is  also  read. 

inspectus  :  Ep.  92,  6  animus  .  .  .  liber  ad  inspectum  universi.  Jn  the  sense 
'examination,'  this  verb  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Amm.  22,  1,  25  (iecoris). 
In  the  sense  'contemplation,'  only  here;  Apul.  Met.  10,  p.  254  (chap.  32,  van 
der  Vliet ;  who,  however,  like  Hildebrand,  reads  aspectu} ; *  and  Anth.  Lat.  878 
Meyer  (=Baehr.  PLM.  81,  1)  (pasce  tuos  inspectu  oculos).  Add  Manil.  4,  899 
unus  et  inspectus  rerum. 

perspicere  :  115,  6  poterimus  perspicere  virtutem. 

perspicuus :  Ep.  100,  10  (oratio  Fabiani)  non  est  perspicua,  sed  pura. 

prospicere  :  Ep.  66,  42  infans,  cui  nihil  amplius  contigit  quam  prospicere 
vitam.  Ep.  92,  35  ne  quis  iusepultus  esset,  rerum  natura  prospecxit  (this  is 
Biicheler's  emendation  for  "prospicit"  of  the  MSS.).  Ep.  101,  9  mens  .  .  . 
quicquid  .  .  .  dierum  rerumque  venturum  est,  ex  alto  prospicit.  Ep.  110,  9  nee 
intra  haec  humani  ingenii  sagacitas  sistitur :  prospicere  et  ultra  mundum  libet. 

respicere :  Ep,  49,  2  infinita  est  velocitas  temporis,  quae  magis  apparet  respi- 
cientibus.  Ep.  73,  3  (ambitio)  non  respicit.  Ep.  78,  13  ambitio  ...  ad  illam 
(sc.  opinionem)  respicit  et  luxuria  et  avaritia.  Ep.  92,  24  voluptas  non  est 
digna,  ad  quam  respiciat  (virtus).  Ep.  95,  5,  one  who  has  not  been  trained 
right  from  the  beginning  cannot  strive  for  what  is  noble  with  all  his  heart,  sed 
respiciet,  sed  haesitabit.  Ep.  95,  45  finem  summi  boni  ...  ad  quern  omne  factum 
nostrum  diet  unique  respiciat. 

spectare :  Ep.  7,  11  quo  tanta  diligentia  artis  spectaret.  Ep.  7,  12  introrsus 
bona  tua  spectant.  Ep.  26,  8  manus  spectabat  ad  clansulam  (Seneca  means  that 
he  was  about  to  conclude  his  letter).  Ep.  45,  12  nullius  non  vita  spectat  in 
crastinum.  Ep.  78,  21,  courage  can  be  shown  as  well  on  the  sick-bed  as  in  the 
arena  or  on  the  battle-field  ;  0  quam  magna  erat  gloriae  materia,  si  spectaremur 
aegri!  Ipse  te  specta,  ipse  te  lauda.  Ep.  85,  29  invictus  ex  alto  dolores  suos 
spectat.  Ep.  90,  13  corpore  incurvato  et  tantum  humum  spectante.  Ep.  95,  10 
philosophia  autem  et  contemplativa  est  et  activa  :  spectat  simul  agitque.  Ep. 
113,  31  iustitia  alienum  bonum  spectans.  Ep.  119,  11  istornm  feiicitas  in  pu- 
blicum  spectat.  Ep.  121,  15  (herba)  flavescit  et  ad  aream  spectat. 

videre  :  Ep.  49,  1  '  when  I  visit  the  places  where  you  used  to  be,  I  see  you  ; ' 
similarly,  Ep.  55,  11.  Ep.  84,  11  (ambitus)  tumida  res  est,  .  .  .  tarn  sollicita  est, 
ne  quern  ante  se  videat,  quam  ne  quern  post  se.  Ep.  109,  16  aiunt  homines  plus 
in  alien  o  negotio  videre.  Vitio  hoc  ill  is  evenit,  quos  amor  sui  excaecat  quibusque 
dispectum  utilitatis  timor  in  periculis  excutit  (note  how  the  trite  metaphor  is 
vitalized  by  excaecare  and  dispectus).  Ep.  115,  6  'every  person  would  be  inspired 
with  love  of  the  mind  of  a  good  man,  if  only  we  could  see  its  beauty.'  The  meta- 
phor is  carried  on  by  means  of  acicm,  splendore  and  obscure,  and  finally  passes  into 
a  formal  simile,  cited  below.  Ep.  116,  5  de  sapiente,  inquit  (sc.  Panaetius), 
videbimus.  Haakh  translates  "  reden,"  but  a  better  rendering  is  Baillard's 
"  quant  au  sage  .  .  .  nous  verrons  plus  tard"  ;  although  I  find  no  parallel  for  this 

1R.  HELM  (Teubner  ed.,  1907)  also  has  aspectu. 


Senses  and  Perceptions  51 

use  of  the  phrase  in  a  manner  corresponding  to  our  '  see  about.'  An  instance  of 
oxymoron  occurs  in  Ep.  57,  2  non  ut  per  tenebras  videamus,  sed  ut  ipsas. 

visus  :  Ep.  89,  2  nobis  .  .  .  quorum  visus  in  proximo  deficit.  The  context  is  on 
1  comprehending  the  universe.' 

caecus  :  Ep.  15,  9  caeca  cupiditas.    So,  Ep.  16,  9  ;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  528  (cupido). 

caecitas:  Ep.  119,  8  mentium.  Ep.  120,  18  vide  in  quanta  caecitate  mens  no- 
stra  sit.  Lexx.  cite  only  Cicero  and  the  Vulgate  Bible  for  the  tropical  use  of  this. 

excaecare:  Ep.  109,  16  (see  videre).    Ep.  119,  11,  excaecant  populum  .  .  .  opes. 

caligare  :  Ep.  57,  4  (subject  is  virtus,  which  may  be  regarded  as  put  by 
metonymy  for  '  the  virtuous  man ' )  caligabit,  si  vastam  altitudinem  .  .  .  despex- 
erit.  Cf.  Sil.  14,  88  bis  octonis  nondum  rex  praeditus  annis  |  caligare  alto  in 
solio  ;  Juv.  6,  31  altae  caligantesque  fenestrae.  Ep.  71,  24  animus  noster  ad 
vera  perspicienda  caligat ;  similarly  Ep.  122,  4.  See  also  caligo  under  the  head- 
ing "Fire  and  Light,"  on  p.  160. 

declarare  :  Ep.  90,  28  quid  sint  di  qualesque  declarat  (sapientia). 

ostendere  :  Ep.  20,  7  paupertas  ...  a  quibus  ameris  ostendet.  Ep.  49,  11  se 
mors  tarn  prope  ostendit.  Ep.  52,  15  (philosophia)  potest  in  penetralibus  suis 
ostendi,  Ep.  79,  1  circuitus  Siciliae  totius  quid  tibi  novi  ostenderit.  Ep.  90,  28 
quae  sint  mala,  quae  videantur  ostendit  (philosophia).  Ep.  91,  2  Lugdunum, 
quod  ostendebatur  in  Gallia  (meaning  'used  to  be  conspicuous').  Ep.  97,  16 
conscientia  .  .  .  ipsos  sibi  ostendit. 

From  sight  there  are  the  following  comparisons.  Ep.  89,  2 
<  the  mind  of  the  wise  passes  over  the  whole  vast  extent  of  the 
universe  no  less  quickly  than  our  sight  does  over  the  sky.7  Ep. 
115,  6  'if,  as  the  sight  of  the  eyes  is  wont  to  be  sharpened  and 
cleared  by  certain  medicines,  so  we  shall  be  willing  to  free  the 
sight  of  the  mind  from  hindrances,  we  shall  be  able  to  perceive 
virtue,  though  it  is  buried  in  the  body,  even  with  poverty  stand- 
ing in  the  way,  even  when  it  is  overlaid  with  obscurity  and 
obloquy.'  Ep.  117,  17  '  the  function  of  wisdom  is  being  wise,  as 
that  of  the  eye  is  seeing.' 

Blindness  occurs  in  the  following  comparisons:  Ep.  50,  3  'we 
laugh  at  the  slave-woman  who,  having  gone  blind,  says  the  house 
is  dark ;  but  the  same  thing  manifestly  befalls  us.  No  one 
realizes  that  he  is  avaricious  or  lustful.  However,  the  blind  seek 
some  one  to  lead  them,  we  wander  about  without  a  leader.'  Ep. 
74,  23  ( some  good  things,  when  taken  away,  leave  an  actual 
defect  in  their  places,  as  the  sight  of  the  eyes,  when  destroyed, 
causes  us  to  suffer  with  blindness.'  Here  may  also  be  included 
Ep.  71,  4  'as  we  often  seek  those  with  whom  we  are  standing,  so 
are  we  generally  not  aware  of  the  supreme  good  when  it  is  close 
beside  us.' 


52  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 


(3)   Hearing 

auscultare  :  Ep.  33,  6,  quotations  from  the  Stoic  writings  are  of  considerable 
benefit  to  those  who  are  still  rudes  et  extrinsecus  auscultantes. 

surdus  :  Ep.  85,  8,  the  nature  of  animals  is  surda  suadenti. 

circumsonare  :  Ep.  94,  55  opiniones,  quae  nos  circumsonant. 

fremere  :  Ep.  56,  5  quid  prodest  totius  regionis  silentium,  si  adfectus  fremunt? 

strepere:  Ep.  114,  6  civilibus  bellis  strepentibus. 

strepitus  :  Ep.  14,  4,  danger  with  which  we  are  threatened  by  some  powerful 
person  strepitu  et  tumultu  venit. 

circumstrepere  :  Ep.  82,  4  mala  humana  circumstrepent.  Ep.  91,  19,  there  is 
no  reason  for  believing  those  qui  te  circumstrepunt. 

obstrepere  (ops-):  Ep.  56,  8,  the  reason  why  a  man  complains  of  hearing  what 
he  has  never  really  heard  is,  animus  illi  obstrepit.  Ep.  121,  4  non  desistam  .  .  . 
votis  opstrepere. 

clamor  :  Ep.  94,  59  tantis  clamoribus  ambitionis. 

aio :  Ep.  102,  29  haec  cogitatio  .  .  .  deos  .  .  .  esse  testes  ait. 

accersere  (arcessere):  Ep.  24,  1  quid  enim  necesse  est  mala  accersere?  Ep. 
69,  6  mortem  .  .  .  accersas.  Ep.  74,  33  arcessere  sibi  miserias.  Ep.  99,  13 
causas  doloris  accersere.  Ep.  119,  5  quas  arcesserem  merces. 

adhortari  :  Ep.  94,  37  (praecepta  as  subject). 

appellare  :  Ep.  119,  4  fames  me  appellat 

dicere  :  Ep.  84,  11  (ratio  as  subject,  and,  in  same  context,  of  suadere,  q.  v. ). 

male  dicere  :  Ep.  71,  5  si  non  male  dixeris  fortnnae.  Ep.  120,  12  fortunae 
maledixit. 

inquit :  Ep.  95,  10  (philosophia  as  subject).  Ep.  102,  22  (animus  humanus  as 
subject). 

fateri  :  Ep.  100,  2  (oratio  Fabiani  as  subject,  and  an  infinitive  clause  as  object). 

negare  :  Ep.  55,  7,  the  villa  of  Vatia  ilium  (sc.  Favonium)  adeo  excipit,  ut  Bais 
neget. 

nuntiare  :  Ep.  77,  1  (naves  as  subject).  Ep.  103,  2  praenuntiat  fumus  incen- 
dium.  Cf.  Ep.  117,  13  motus  animorum  enuntiativi  corporum. 

respondere  :  Ep.  23,  5  vena  (roetallorum)  adsidue  plenius  responsura  fodienti. 
Ep.  74,  24  probati  respondentesque  voto  patris  liberi.  Ep.  112,  2  si  non  respondit 
(vitis). 

sermo  :  Ep.  67,  2  cum  libellis  mihi  plurimus  sermo  est. 

suadere  :  (as  presupposing  and  producing  mental  action,  this  might  also  be 
sclassified  under  I,  A  ;  but  since  Seneca  uses  it  in  a  manner  implying  utterance  I 
prefer  to  place  it  here)  Ep.  84,  11  nisi  ratione  suadente.  Hanc  si  audire  volueris, 
dicet.  Ep.  94,  1  (pars  philosophiae  as  subject).  Ep.  109,  15  (virtus  as  subject). 

vocare  :  Ep.  48,  7  alium  mors  vocat  ;  so  also  Ep.  78,  27.  Ep.  59,  5  multi 
unt,  qui  .  .  .  alicuius  verbi  placentis  decore  vocentur.  Ep.  66,  17  species  recti 
vocat.  Ep.  71,  6  rem  magnificentissimam  ad  syllabas  vocant  (Pauly  renders 
"zum  Gegenstand  ihrer  Sylbenspiele  machen").  Ep.  71,  29  quo  me  vocat 
expectatio  tua.  Ep.  79,  12  sursum  ilium  vocant  initia  sua.  Ep.  87,  34  (virtus 
as  subject).  Ep.  90,  26  (sapientia  as  subject).  Ep.  90,  39  possessionem  vocet 
(avaritia)  per  sua  longam  peregrinationem  (where,  however,  avaritia  may  be 


Taste  53 

regarded  as  put  by  metonymy  for  avari).  Ep.  95,  10  magna  me  vocant  (me  is 
philosophia  which  is  represented  as  speaking  in  this  passage).  Ep.  Ill,  5  tanta 
rerum  moles  vocet.  Ep.  118,  8  bonum  est  quod  invitat  animos,  quod  ad  se  vocat. 

vox  :  Ep.  8,  7  cuius  (sc.  Epicuri)  hanc  vocem  hodierno  die  legi. 

avocare :  Ep.  56,  4  magis  mihi  videtur  vox  avocare  (i.  e.,  distract  attention 
from  studies)  quam  crepitus.  Ep.  56,  11  nulla  res  nos  avocabit.  Ep.  80,  1 
spectaculi,  quod  omnes  molestos  .  .  .  avocavit.  Ep.  92,  24  quern  nullus  avocavit 
dolor. 

evocare:  Ep.  49,  1  desiderium  loca  interdum  familiaria  evocant.  Ep.  61,  2 
(mors  as  subject)  .  Ep.  100,  12  (scripta  Fabiani)  adulescentem  indolis  bonae  . . . 
ad  imitationem  sui  evocarent.  Ep.  106,  5  (adfectus)  ruborem  evocent.  Ep.  115, 
4  evocante  ipsa  vultus  benignitate.  Ep.  124,  23  an  tu  ad  suum  finem  hanc  (sc. 
rationem)  evocas  ? 

revocare  :  Ep.  13,  11  gladius  ab  ipsi  cervice  revocatus  est ;  cf.  Ep.  30,  4 
gladium  miles  ab  ipsa  perituri  cervice  revocavit.  Ep.  15,  8  cum  recipies  illam 
(sc.  vocem  modestam)  revocarisque.  Ep.  41,  9  quomodo  .  .  .  revocari  ad  salutem 
possunt.  Ep.  47,  8  quos  adulatio  et  intemperantia  .  .  .  re  vocet  in  crastinum  (the 
meaning  is  'causes  them  to  be  invited  for  the  next  day  also').  Ep.  50,  6  robora 
in  rectum  .  .  .  revocabis.  Ep.  66,  30  speciosa  et  magna  contra  visentibus,  cum  ad 
pondus  revocata  sunt  fallunt.  Ep.  71,  7  Socrates,  qui  totam  philosophiam  revoca- 
vit ad  mores.  Ep.  93,  9  per  quas  annum  vices  re  vocet  (natura).  Ep.  94,  40 
(animos)  in  pravum  inclinabiles  revocat  ad  rectum  .  .  .  bonorum  virorum  conver- 
satio.  Ep.  95,  22  (vim  morbi)  in  medio  sedentem  ad  extrema  revocare.  Ep.  99, 
18  omnia  ...  ad  rationem  revocanda  sunt.  Ep.  104,  3  spiritus  .  .  .  revocandus 
et  in  ipso  ore  retinendus  est.  Ep.  106,  9  moderatio  refrenat  ac  revocat.  Ep. 
110,  7  longius  revocandi  simus  (in  a  moral  sense).  Ep.  114,  10  animus  .  .  . 
antiqua  verba  atque  exsoleta  revocat.  Ep.  119,  14  quaerit  (luxuria)  .  .  .  quem- 
admodum  sitim  prima  potione  sedatam  revocet.  Ep.  124,  17  (praeteriti  memoria) 
revocatur  .  .  .  praesentium  occursu. 

The  comparisons  which  belong  in  this  division  are : 

Deafness  :  Ep.  29,  1,  where  Seneca  is  explaining  why  he  does  not  talk  philoso- 
phy to  Lucilius'  friend  Marcellinus,  and  says  there  is  no  use  in  talking  with  one 
who  will  not  hear ;  '  what  good  would  it  do  if  one  should  upbraid  those  who  are 
deaf  or  dumb,  either  naturally  or  through  disease  ? ' 

Speech :  Ep.  67,  2  '  as  often  as  I  receive  your  letters  I  seem  to  be  with  you,  and 
feel  as  if  I  were  not  writing  back  to  you  but  talking  with  you.'  Ep.  94,  38  'a 
law  should  be  like  a  voice  sent  from  God  ;  it  should  command,  not  argue.'  Ep. 
117,  17  '  the  function  of  wisdom  is  being  wise,  as  that  of  the  power  of  speech  is 
speaking.' 

(4)    Taste 

gustus  :  Ep.  11,  1  locutus  est  mecum  arnicus  tuus  .  .  .  ,  in  quo  quantum  esset 
animi,  .  .  .  sermo  primus  ostendit.  Dedit  nobis  gustum,  ad  quern  respondebit. 
Ep.  85,  1  quasi  gustum  tibi  dare  eorum,  quae  a  nostris  dicuntur  ;  cf.  Ep.  114,  18. 

degustare  :  Ep.  33,  5  depone  istam  spem,  posse  te  summatim  degustare  ingenia 


54  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

maximorum  virorum  :  tota  tibi  inspicienda  sunt,  tota  tractanda  (note  the  awkward 
mixing  of  metaphors).  Ep.  46,  1  librum  .  .  .  degustare  volui ;  cf.  exhausi  a  little 
later  in  the  same  passage. 

dulcedo  :  Ep.  9,  17  ut  aliarum  nobis  rerum  innata  dulcedo  est,  sic  amicitiae. 
Ep.  46,  1  tanta  autem  dulcedine  me  tenuit  (liber  tuus),  Ep.  105,  6  dulcedo 
sermonis.  Dulcedo  in  a  literal  sense  is  rare  in  Latin  ;  in  the  tropical  sense,  it  is 
quite  widely  used,  including  Cicero  ;  but  not  Caesar. 


(5)   Smell 

olitio  :  Ep.  91,  20-21  '  should  a  good  man  be  injured  by  the  reports  spread 
abroad  by  enemies?  Nor  should  even  death  be  injured  in  our  eyes  by  such 
means  :  et  haec  malam  olitionem  habet.  This  word  seems  to  occur  nowhere  else, 
and  therefore,  although  it  is  pretty  well  supported  by  the  MSS.,  several  editors 
have  attempted  emendations,  for  which  see  Hense's  and  Fickert's  ap.  crit.  and 
Schweighauser's  Notae  Criticae.  But  none  of  the  conjectures,  except  those  which 
do  great  violence  to  the  MSS.,  give  a  sense  better  than  the  one  which  is  possible 
through  the  metaphorical  interpretation  of  the  text ;  cf.  oluisse  in  Ep.  86,  12, 
cited  on  p.  17. 

(6)    Touch,  Feeling,  Handling 

tangere  :  Ep.  26,  1  decrepitos  .  .  .  et  extrema  tangentis.  Ep.  76,  10,  the  man 
who  has  gained  perfect  reason  finem  naturae  suae  tetigit,  cf.  Ep.  119,  8  tacto  fine 
terrarum.  Ep.  85,  3  sapientem  non  vinci  maerore,  ceterurn  tangi.  Ep.  94,  28 
(versus)  adfectus  ipsos  tangunt.  Ep.  94,  29  erigitur  virtus,  cum  tacta  est.  Ep. 
107,  1  pusilla  te  res  tangit.  This  is  Hense's  reading  for  "  pusilla  tangit"  of  the 
MSS.  See  his  ap.  crit.  Ep.  116,  2  naturale  est  opinionibus  hominum  tangi. 

attingere:  Ep.  66,  8  quidquid  attigit  (virtus),  in  similitudinem  sui  adducit. 

contingere :  Ep.  72,  10  (sapientiam)  non  quidem  contigerunt.  This  verb  in 
the  sense  ' arrive  at,  attain  to '  is  mostly  poetic. 

contactus  :  Ep.  118,  10  cuius  (sc.  perfecti  boni)    contactu  alia  .  .  .  bona  Hunt. 

taxare :  Ep.  24,  2  quodcumque  est  illud  malum,  tecum  ipse  metire  ac  timorem 
tuum  taxa.  Ep.  81,  8  uni  sapienti  notum  est,  quanti  res  quaeque  taxanda  sit. 
This  verb,  which  literally  signifies  'feel,  handle'  (cf.  Gell.  2,  6,  5)  is  very  rarely 
found  in  that  sense.  As  meaning  'reproach,  censure,  charge  with  a  fault '  it  is 
cited  only  for  the  elder  Pliny  and  Suetonius.  Its  early  use  in  the  sense  '  estimate, 
appraise'  is  indicated  by  the  examples  given  by  Antib.7,  n,  p.  646,  but  seems  to 
have  been  introduced  into  literature  by  Seneca,  from  whom  alone,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Florus  1,  22,  18  Rossb.  (dignitas  equestris  taxata  mensura)>  examples  are 
cited  for  taxare  with  an  abstract  object ;  cf.,  in  addition  to  the  instances  from  the 
Epistles,  Sen.  Dial.  6,  19,  1  (malum)  and  Here.  Fur.  746  (scelera).  After  Seneca 
it  is  employed  with  this  meaning,  in  the  material  sphere,  by  the  elder  Pliny, 
Hyginus  Gromaticus,  Suetonius  (who  is  quite  fond  of  the  word),  Marius  Victori- 
nus  and  Aggenus  Urbicus. 

titillare  :  Ep.  99,  27  ipsum  vis  titillare  maerorem  ?  Ep.  113,  21  ego  mehercules 
titillare  non  desinam  et  ludos  mihi  ex  istis  subtilibus  ineptiis  facere.  See  Antib.7, 
H,  p.  664  and  A.  FUNCK  in  A.  L.  L.  iv  (1887),  p.  240  f. 


The  House  itself,  and  Residence  55 

indurare  :  durus  and  the  verbs  connected  with  it  belong  rather  under  the  head 
of  ''Properties  of  Material  Objects"  (in,  A),  to  be  considered  later.  But  we 
may  properly  include  at  this  place  some  examples  of  indurare  which  involve  the 
idea  of  dulling  or  resisting  sensation.  The  verb  is  not  common  in  any  sense,  and 
its  use  with  this  particular  meaning  appears  to  be  restricted  to  Seneca.  The 
instances  in  the  Epistulae  Morales  are  :  Ep.  4,  6  adhortare  te  et  indura.  Ep.  51, 
5  indurandus  est  animus ;  cf.  Ep.  82,  16  magna  exercitatione  durandus  est  ani- 
mus. Ep.  104,  22  animum  indurare. 


C.    SHELTER  AND  CLOTHING 
(a)    THE  HOUSE  AND  ITS  FURNISHINGS 

(1)    The  House  itself,  and  Residence 

The  examples  under  this  head,  the  majority  of  which  are  those 
applied  to  the  body  as  the  residence  of  the  soul,  are  as  follows  : 

aedificare :  Ep.  88,  28  philosophia  nil  ab  alio  petit,  totum  opus  a  solo  excitat : 
mathematice,  ut  ita  dicam,  superficiaria  est,  in  alieno  aedificat.  Cf.  fundamentum 
in  Ep.  88,  27. 

aedificium  :  Ep.  58,  35  si  (senectus)  coeperit  concutere  nientem,  si  partes  eius 
convellere,  .  .  .  prosiliam  ex  aedificio  putri  ac  ruenti. 

domicilium  :  Ep.  65,  21  (of  the  body)  in  hoc  obnoxio  domicilio  animus  liber 
habitat.  Ep.  70,  16  (referring  to  the  body,  which  in  the  next  section  is  spoken 
of  as  contubernium).  Ep.  88,  34,  'does  the  soul  pass  from  one  place  to  another 
and  change  its  residence  to  the  forms  of  other  animals  ?'  Ep.  108,  19  (anima) 
pererratis  pluribus  domiciliis  in  hominem  revertatur. 

domus  :  Ep.  23,  4  paupertati  domum  aperire.  Ep.  26,  8  expecta  me  pusillum, 
et  de  domo  fiet  numeratio  ;  interim  commodabit  Epicurus.  Ep.  81,  22,  the 
worst  part  of  ingratitude  domi  remanet  (i.  e.,  remains  within  the  man  himself). 
Ep.  90,  42  prospectus  huius  pulcherrimae  domus  (i.  e. ,  the  universe).  Ep.  100, 
5-6  has  an  extended  and  detailed  metaphor  describing  the  style  of  Fabianus, 
ending  with  the  words  quod  did  solet,  domus  recta  est,  on  which  see  Otto, 
"Sprichworter,"  p.  120.  Ep.  120,  14  (see  hospitium). 

habitare :  Ep.  120,  16,  we  are  afflicted  with  various  diseases  and  weaknesses, 
we  are  assailed  here  and  driven  out  there,  hoc  evenire  solet  in  alieno  habitantibus. 

hospitari  :  Ep.  31,  11  quid  aliud  voces  hunc  (sc.  animum  rectum)  quam  deum 
in  corpore  humano  hospitantem  ?  Ep.  108,  19  si  in  quo  (sc.  animali )  cognatus 
aliqui  spiritus  hospitaretur. 

hospitium  :  Ep.  88,  35  haec  tarn  multa.  tarn  magna  ut  habere  possint  liberum 
hospitium,  supervacua  ex  animo  tollenda  sunt ;  cf.  domicilium  in  88,  34.  Ep. 
120,  14  nee  domum  esse  hoc  corpus,  sed  hospitium,  et  quidem  breve  hospitium, 
quod  relinquendum  est,  ubi  te  gravem  esse  hospiti  videas. 

inhabitare ;  Ep.  102,  27  istuc  corpus  inhabitatum  diu  pone  :  scindetur,  obrue- 
tur,  abolebitur. 

inquilinus  :  Ep.  108,  5  quos  ego  non  discipulos  philosophorum  sed  inquilinos 
voco. 


56  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Of  the  comparisons  belonging  here,  the  most  striking  are  Ep. 
30,  2,  where  an  old  man's  body  is  likened  to  a  decaying  house ; 
and  Ep.  53,  4-6,  where  the  building  of  character  is  likened  to 
houses,  in  which  the  builder  who  has  to  start  with  a  poor  founda- 
tion deserves  more  credit  for  ultimate  success.  Other  passages 
are  Ep.  66,  3  and  Ep.  70,  11  and  16. 

(2)    Parts  of  the  House 

Of  the  tropical  expressions  connected  with  particular  parts  of 
the  house,  fundamentum  has  by  far  the  widest  range,  as  well  as 
the  largest  number  of  examples,  being  applied  to  utterances,  life, 
the  mind,  joy,  virtue,  art,  and  government.  The  words  which 
belong  under  this  head  are  : 

claustra:  Ep.  119,  7  (Alexander)  mundi  claustra  perrumpit. 

culmen  :  Ep.  23,  2  (bonae  mentis). 

detegere  :  Ep.  83,  19  omne  vitium  ebrietas  .  .  .  detegit.  Ep.  96,  2  intimos 
adfectus  meos  .  .  .  detego. 

fastigium :  Ep.  47,  18  dominos  de  fastigio  suo  deicere.  Ep.  74,  28  ex  altiore 
fastigio  .  .  .  subducitur.  Ep.  76,  31  quos  divitiae  honoresque  in  altiore  fastigio 
ponunt.  Ep.  84,  13  confragosa  in  fastigium  dignitatis  via  est  (note  how  the  one 
metaphor  defines  and  strengthens  the  other).  Ep.  92,  26  in  inium  agatur  e 
fastigio  suo  deiecta  virtus.  Ep.  94,  73  beatos  in  illo  invidioso  fastigio  suo  tre- 
mentes.  Ep.  108,  13  (Attalurn)  sublimem  altioremque  humano  fastigio  credidi. 
Ep.  Ill,  4  animus  .  .  .  philosophiam  a  fastigio  suo  deducit  in  planum.  For  the 
transfer  of  this  word  from  the  original  meaning  of  'gable,'  see  Antib.7,  I,  p. 
581  f. ;  to  which  add  Nep.  Att.  10,  2. 

fundamentum  :  Ep.  10,  3  habent  hae  voces  fundamentum.  Ep.  13,  16  cotidie 
nova  vitae  fundamenta  ponentium.  Ep.  23,  1-2  (bonae  mentis)  fundamentum 
.  .  .  fundamentum  hoc  esse  dixi :  culmen  est.  Ep.  23,  5  invecticium  gaudium 
.  .  .  fundamento  caret.  Ep.  31,  1  fundamenta  tua  multum  loci  occupaverunt 
(referring  to  plans  for  life  as  a  philosopher).  Ep.  58,  6  natura  continens  funda- 
mentum omnium.  Ep.  87,  41  paupertatem,  fundamentum  et  causam  imperii. 
Ep.  88,  27  ars  .  .  .  cui  precarium  fundamentum  est.  Ep.  95,  35  in  iis,  quos  velis 
ad  beatam  vitam  perducere,  prima  fundamenta  iacienda  sunt.  Ep.  108,  8  funda- 
menta .  .  .  semenque  virtutum.  Ep.  124,  6  beata  vita  fundamentum  et  initium 
a  manifestis  ducit. 

gradus:  Ep.  12,  6  unus  .  .  .  dies  gradus  vitae  est.  Ep.  75,  8  infra  ilium  (i.  e., 
the  truly  wise  man)  nulli  gradus  sunt?  Ep.  75,  15  studii  secundus  occupatur 
gradus.  Ep.  89,  16  (partes  philosophiae)  dividuntur  in  suos,  ut  ita  dicam, 
gradus.  Ep.  110,  3  res  gradum  sibi  struxit  in  praeceps.  Ep.  118,  6  istud,  quod 
tu  summum  putas,  gradus  est. 


Parts  of  the  House  57 

limen  :  Ep.  22,  16  in  ipso  limine  securitatis  ;  cf.  Sen.  Here,  Fur.  1134  (vitae). 
Ep.  49,  6  (see  salutare,  p.  63). 
superficiarius  :  Ep.  88,  28  (see  aedificare,  p.  55). 

Only  two  comparisons  are  to  be  noted  here,  namely,  Ep.  82, 
13-14,  where  a  bedroom,  which  is  light  by  day  but  dark  at  night, 
is  used  to  illustrate  the  statement  that  possessions  may  be  good 
or  bad  according  as  they  are  connected  with  virtue  or  vice ;  and 
Ep.  115,  9,  where  those  who  display  prosperity  and  honors  are 
compared  to  walls  and  ceilings  overlaid  with  marble  and  gold. 

The  following  expressions  of  a  more  general  character  may  also 
be  included  here : 

admittere  :  Ep.  3,  2  toto  ilium  pectore  admitte.  Ep.  30,  15  (mortem).  Ep. 
81,  31  (divitias  ad  summum  bonum).  Ep.  99,  26  (dolorem  in  animum).  Ep. 
99,  27  voluptas  ad  dolorem  qupque  admittitur.  Ep.  123,  9  (voces),  see  under 
daudere. 

cadere:  Ep.  95,  22  (see  fulcire) . 

claudere  (cludere):  Ep.  25,  4  intra  quae  quisquis  desiderium  suurn  clusit.  Ep. 
55,  11  '  we  should  be  living  in  a  contracted  place  if  anything  were  closed  against 
our  thoughts.'  Ep.  93,  9  omnia  .  .  .  cluserit  (natura),  Ep.  102,  22  nullum 
saeculum  magnis  ingeniis  clusum  est.  Ep.  123,  9  'we  should  shut  our  ears  to 
evil  speeches  ;  after  they  have  been  admitted  they  grow  bolder.'  Cf.  excludere 
and  indudere. 

condecorare  :  Ep.  66,  8  actiones,  amicitias,  interdum  domos  totas,  quas  intravit 
(virtus)  disposuitque,  condecorat. 

conlabi :  Ep.  99,  17  videt  aliquem  conlabentem  (because  of  grief,  at  a  funeral). 

corruere  :  Ep.  91,  9  quotiens  in  se  Paphus  corruit  (i.  e.,  because  of  earth- 
quakes). 

eversio  :  Ep.  95,  29  (morum) . 

evertere :  Ep.  9,  9  florentes  amicorum  turba  circumsedet,  circa  eversos  soli- 
tudo  est. 

excludere  :  Ep.  72,  11  (occupationes)  excludendae  sunt :  si  semel  intraverint, 
in  locum  suum  alias  substituent.  Ep.  74,  29  (virtus)  undique  exclusa.  Ep.  85, 
38  nulla  res  actus  sapientis  excludit.  Ep.  90,  40  (avarus)  alium  necessariis  .  .  . 
excluserat.  Ep.  94,  36  (falsas  opiniones).  Ep.  116,  2  (adfectus)  excluditur 
facilius  quam  expellitur. 

f  ulcire :  Ep.  33,  7  f  ulcire  se  notissimis  ac  paucissimis  vocibus  et  memoria  stare. 
Ep.  68,  7  (stomachum  frequenti  cibo).  Ep.  95,  22  (vino  venas  cadentes) .  Ep. 
98,  5  (animum). 

includere :  Ep.  33,  6  singula  .  .  .  circumscripta  et  carminis  modo  inclusa.  Ep. 
114,  9  ut  ea,  quae  includere  solent  cenam,  prima  ponantur. 

intrare:  Ep.  66,  8  domos.  .  .  quas  intravit  (virtus).  Ep.  72,  11  (see  exdu- 
dere).  Ep.  98,  1  exibit  gaudium,  quod  intravit.  Ep.  116,  3  (adfectus,  subject). 

ruina:  Ep.  33,  5  (see  lineamenta,  p.  93).  Ep.  51,  11  (Scipionis).  Ep.  71,  9 
et  tarn  magni  ruina  imperii  (sc.  Pompei)  in  totum  dissiliet  orbem :  aliqua  pars 


58  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

ems  in  Aegypto,  aliqua  in  Africa,  aliqua  in  Hispania  cadet.  Ne  hoc  quidem 
miserae  rei  publicae  continget,  semel  ruere.  Ep.  78,  15  (plerique)  attrahunt  in 
se  ruinani,  cui  obstandum  est.  The  metaphor  is  developed  in  the  next  sentence. 


(3)    Utensils  and  Furniture 

Under  this  head  I  have  grouped  the  following  words,  although 
several  of  them  might  be  equally  well  assigned  to  "  Arts  and 
Trades,"  on  p.  90  ff. 

acuere  :  Ep.  10,  2  (animus  audaciam);  cf.  Sen.  Troad.  835  (iras)  and  id. 
Phaed.  1059  se  ilia  moles  ('monster')  acuit.  Ep.  115,  6  visus  oculorum  quibus- 
dam  medicamentis  acui  solet.  Ep.  124,  21  (disputatio  animum). 

acutus:  Ep.  82,  24  (of  arguments).  Ep.  101,  10  (crux ;  quoted  from 
Maecenas,  whose  own  words  are  given  in  sect.  11). 

apparatus:  Ep.  94,  70  (vitiorum). 

area :  Ep.  26,  8  scis  cuius  area  utar  (followed  by  a  quotation  from  Epicurus). 
Ep.  118,  2  quis  consulatum  fiducia  Caesaris,  quis  Pompei,  quis  arcae  petat. 

caedere  :  Ep.  69,  5  si  tarn  breve  tempus  intervallis  caedimus. 

concidere :  Ep.  89,  2  dividi  (philosophiam)  .  .  .  ,  non  concidi,  utile  est. 

consuere :  Ep.  47,  4,  slaves  who  dared  to  speak  freely  are  described  as  men 
quorum  os  non  consuebatur.  The  phrase  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here. 

exacuere :  Ep.  117,  19  (referring  to  sophistic  quibbles)  deprimunt  (animum) 
nee  .  .  .  exacuunt,  sed  extenuant. 

hebetare ;  Ep.  24,  16  (animus)  hebetabitur.  While  the  tropical  use  of  hebes 
and  hebeseere  is  Ciceronian,  this  verb  is  not  so  employed  before  the  Augustan 
period.  The  examples  cited  by  Lexx.  are  from  Vergil  (visus);  Ovid  (flammas  ; 
sidera  ;  pectora);  Celsus  (aures);  the  two  Plinys ;  Suetonius  (animum  et 
corpus);  and  Justinus  (rei  publicae  vires).  Add  Sen.  Here.  Fur.  1043  visusque 
maeror  hebetat  and  Thy.  920  pectora  longis  hebetata  malis. 

obtunsus  :  Ep.  124,  4  sensus,  obtunsa  res  et  hebes.  Note  how  hebes  which  is 
common  in  the  tropical  sense,  has  its  original  meaning  revived  by  its  connection 
with  obtunsus. 

perforatus  :  Ep.  99,  5,  we  should  rest  content  with  the  instruction  we  have 
imbibed,  si  modo  non  perforate  animo  hauriebamus  et  transmittente  quicquid  acceperat. 
Seneca  is  probably  thinking  either  of  a  strainer  or  sieve,  or  of  a  leaky  vessel. 
Cf.  Ter.  Eun.  150  plenus  rimarum  sum,  hac  atque  iliac  perfluo. 

rubigo  (rob-):  Ep.  7,  7  malignus  comes  quamvis  candido  et  simplici  rubiginem 
suam  adfricuit.  Ep.  95,  36  robigo  animorum  effricanda  est. 

situs,  'mold'  :  Ep.  58,  5  quantum  apud  Enniurn  et  Accium  verborum  situs 
occupaverit.  The  metaphorical  use  of  this  word  is  quite  common  in  poetry,  but 
the  only  prose  authors  cited  for  it  by  Lexx.  are  Livy,  Velleius,  Columella, 
Seneca,  Quintilian,  and  Gellius. 

supellex  :  Ep.  58,  18  propria  Platonis  supellex  est  :  ideas  vocat.  Ep.  87,  13 
(artis  musicae  ;  referring  to  various  instruments).  Ep.  88,  36  supervacua  lit- 
terarum  supellectile  (part  of  a  comparison,  cited  below).  Ep.  95,  18  tarn  magna 


Dress  and  Toilet  59 

medicorum  supellectile  ...  tot  ferramentis  atque  pyxidibus.  See  Antib.7,  n,  p. 
625,  and  cf.  examples  from  Cicero,  Quintilian,  Persius,  and  Macrobius  given  by 
H.  Lex.,  s.  v.,  ii. 

The  comparisons  are  Ep.  24,  20  (life,  to  a  WATER-CLOCK)  ;  54, 
5  (life  to  a  LAMP)  ;  87,  26-27  (a  JAR  containing  both  gold  and  a 
viper,  as  an  illustration  of  getting  good  and  bad  from  the  same 
source) ;  88,  36  (needless  learning,  to  useless  FURNITURE)  ;  108, 
26  (life,  to  an  AMPHORA,  with  only  the  dregs  left) ;  118,  15  (JARS 
of  wine,  to  illustrate  the  statement  that  size  does  not  alter  quality  ; 
Seneca  quotes  this  to  refute  it);  Lib.  xxn  (exc.  Gell.),  11-12 
(archaic  style,  to  SOTERICI  LECTI). 

(b)  DRESS  AND  TOILET 

The  examples  here  are  numerous  and  cover  quite  a  wide  range. 
The  favorite  words  are  exuere  and  induere,  of  which  the  former 
shows  a  considerable  variety  of  application.  The  following 
expressions  belong  in  this  division  : 

adornare  :  Ep.  76,  32  sic  nobis  imponitur,  quod  neminem  aestimamus  eo,  quod 
est.  sed  adicimus  illi  et  ea,  quibus  adornatus  est.  Atqui  cum  voles  veram  hominis 
aestimationem  inire  et  scire,  qualis  sit,  nudum  inspice :  ponat  patrimonium, 
ponat  honores  et  alia  fortunae  mendacia,  corpus  ipsum  exuat  :  animum  intuere, 
qualis  quantusque  sit,  alieno  an  suo  magnus.  In  the  preceding  paragraph  Seneca 
has  employed  a  comparison  with  actors  and  costumes. 

capsula  :  Ep.  115,  2  nosti  comptnlos  invenes,  barba  et  coma  nitidos,  de  capsula 
totos.  Cf.  our  expression  "just  out  of  a  band-box."  This  use  of  the  phrase, 
which  is  evidently  proverbial,  is  cited  only  here  by  H.  Lex.,  and  is  not  noted  by 
Otto  or  Sutphen.  F-DV.  compares  Sen.  Dial.  9,  1,  5  placet  non  in  ambitionem 
cubile  compositum,  non  ex  arcula  prolata  vestis.  For  the  colloquial  character  of 
the  word,  see  W.  C.  SUMMERS  in  Class.  Quart,  n,  1  (Jan.,  1908),  p.  24. 

cingere  :  Ep.  84,  10  cavea  (theatri)  aenatoribus  cincta  est.  Ep.  89,  20  latifun- 
diis  vestris  maria  cinxistis.  Ep.  92,  35  (after  quoting  a  saying  of  Maecenas)  alte 
cinctum  putes  dixisse.  Habuit  enim  ingenium  et  grande  et  virile,  nisi  illud 
secundis  rebus  discinxisset  (so  Hense,  after  Biicheler);  cf.  Hor.  Sat.  2,  8,  10  puer 
alte  cinctus,  Petr.  126  sta tores  altius  cinctos,  and  Sen.  Ep.  114,  4,  where  the 
literary  style  of  Maecenas  is  said  to  have  been  as  loose  (soluta]  as  he  himself  was 
ungirded  (discinctus}.  Ep.  102,  21  patria  est  illi  (sc.  animo)  quodcumque 
suprema  et  universa  circuitu  suo  cingit.  Cf.  succingere. 

circumtondere  :  Ep.  115,  2  (see  eultus}. 

colere  :  Ep.  114,  14  (of  literary  style)  alter  se  plus  iusto  colit,  alter  plus  iusto 
neglegit ;  ille  et  crura,  hie  ne  alas  quidem  vellit.  Cf.  adtus. 


60  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

comere:  Ep.  100,  6  quidam  illam  (conpositionem)  volunt  esse  ex  horrido 
comptam.  Ep.  100,  8  (of  the  literary  work  of  Fabianus)  totum  corpus  videris 
quam  sit  comptum.  Cf.  Quint.  8,  3,  42  and  Gell.  1,  9,  10. 

compte  :  Ep.  75,  6  (disserat).  This  adverb,  which  is  always  used  in  a  tropical 
sense,  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Seneca  and  Gellius,  with  a  doubtful  instance  in 
Plautus  (Mil.  941).  The  examples  given  of  the  similar  employment  of  the 
adjective  comptus  (applied  most  frequently  to  literary  style)  are:  Cic.  Sen.  9,  28 
(oratio)  ;  Lucan,  10,  84  (Cleopatra)  simulatum  compta  dolorem  ;  Pliny,  N.  H. 
8,  194  (colus);  Quint.  10,  1,  79  (in  diverse  genere  dicendi);  Tac.  H.  1,  19 
(comptior  sermo);  id.  A.  6,  15  (facundia);  Aug.  Quant.  Anim.  33  anima  mun- 
dissima  atque  comptissima. 

conchyliatus :  Ep.  62,3,  'purple-clad,'  used  by  metonymy  for  'the  elegantly 
dressed '  in  contrast  with  the  seminudus  Demetrius.  In  this  sense  it  is  cited  only 
here  by  Lexx. 

conterere  :  Ep.  4,  11  it  is  unnecessary  luxuries  quae  togam  conterunt. 

cultus :  Ep.  115,  2  oratio  cultus  animi  est :  si  circumtonsa  est  et  fucata  et  manu 
facta,  ostendit  ilium  quoque  non  esse  sincerum  .  .  .  Non  est  ornamentum  virile 
concinnitas. 

discingere  :  Ep.  92,  35  (see  cingere). 

exornare :  Ep.  79,  18  si  modo  illam  (sc.  virtutem)  bona  secutus  est  fide,  si  se 
non  exornavit  et  pinxit.  Ep.  97,  14  licet  illud  (sc.  scelus)  fortuna  exornet 
muneribus  suis. 

exuere:  Ep.  11,  1  (se  omnibus  vitiis);  cf.  104,  21.  Ep.  13,  8  quos  pulvis 
motus  fuga  pecorum  exuit  castra.  Ep.  24,  18  mors  nos  aut  consumit  aut  exuit. 
Emissis  meliora  restant  onere  detracto.  Ep.  69,  3  (amorem).  Ep.  76,  32  (see 
adornare).  Ep.  85,  8  tigres  leonesque  numquam  feritatem  exuunt.  Ep.  85,  29 
sensum  eniin  hominis  nulla  exuit  virtus.  Ep.  90,  28  (sapientia)  vanitatem  exuit 
mentibus.  Ep.  95,  21  quia  feminam  exuerant,  damnatae  sunt  morbis  virilibus. 
Ep.  118,  17  (priorem  formam).  Ep.  122,  1  lucem  primam  exuit  (so  the  MSS., 
but  the  text  is  corrupt.  Schweighauser  reads  "prima  luce  exeat"  and  Haase 
"lucem  primam  excipit."  For  other  proposed  emendations  see  Hense'sap.  crit. ). 

f ucus  :  Ep.  26,  5  remotis  strophis  ac  fucis  de  me  iudicaturus  sum  ;  cf . ,  in  the 
context,  involuta  lenociniis  and  mimus. 

fucatus :  Ep.  115,  2  oratio. 

habitus  :  Ep.  113,  14  sed  idem  animus,  inquit,  iustitiae  habitum  induit. 

horridus  :  Ep.  100,  6,  of  literary  style  (see  comere). 

induere :  Ep.  47,  20  regum  nobis  induimus  animos  ;  cf.  Ep.  64,  4  ;  67,  12 ; 
71,  19.  Ep.  94,  40  nulla  res  magis  animis  honesta  induit .  .  .  quam  bonorum 
virorum  conversatio.  Ep.  113,  14  (see  habitus). 

investire  :  Ep.  114,  5,  in  a  passage  quoted  from  Maecenas,  which  Seneca  cen- 
sures. 

manuleatus :  Ep.  33,  2  apud  me  Epicurus  durus  est  et  fortis,  licet  manulea- 
tus  sit. 

nudus  :  Ep.  14,  9  nudum  latro  transmittit  ;  etiam  in  obsessa  via  pauperi  pax 
est.  Ep.  66,  3  (animi).  Ep.  76,  32  (see  adornare).  Ep.  94,  44  (praecepta); 
cf.  Ep.  95,  36. 

ornamentum:  Ep.  29,  12  si  intrante  te  clamor  et  plausus  et  pantomimica 
ornamenta  obstrepuerint.  The  sense  here  seems  to  be  *  such  honors  as  are  paid 


Dress  and  Toilet  61 

to  actors  ; '  for  which  I  find  no  exact  parallel,  although  the  employment  of 
ornamentum  in  the  sense  of  honor  or  decus  is  Ciceronian,  e.  g.,  De  Or.  1,  45,  199 ; 
Balb.  19,  43  ;  Cat.  3,  11,  26  ;  cf.  Val.  Max.  4,  4,  init.  and  Pliny,  Ep.  8,  12,  1. 
Such  passages  as  Plaut.  Capt.  615  and  Trin.  358,  where  it  means  a  player's  outfit, 
and  Pliny,  N.  H.  2,  8,  where  it  is  used  to  translate  /c6o>cos,  are  of  a  different 
character.  Ep.  91,  10  civitas  .  .  .  opulenta  ornamentumque  provinciarum.  Ep. 
115,  2,  of  literary  style  (see  cultus). 

ornare :  Ep.  90,  5  beneficentia  augebat  ornabatque  subiectos.  See  adornare  and 
exornare. 

pingere  :  Ep.  79,  18  (see  exornare). 

praetexere  :  Ep.  89,  21  nullum  flumen  cuius  non  ripas  aedificia  vestra  prae- 
texant.  Ep.  91,  16  monumentis,  quae  viam  .  .  .  praetexunt.  Ep.  94,  64  hae 
praetexebantur  causae  ad  continuandam  potentiam  ;  cf.  Cic.  Pis.  24,  56  (cupidi- 
tatem  triumphi) ;  Veil.  2,  62,  3  (rem  publicam);  Tac.  H.  1,  72  (servatam  ab  eo 
filiam);  id.  H.  4,  73  (libertatem  et  speciosa  nomina);  Just.  16,  1,  4  (satis  iustam 
causam  ad  sceleris  patrocinia).  For  praetextum  with  the  corresponding  meaning 

I  pretence,'  cf.  Suet.  Caes.  30;   id,  Aug.  12;   Sen.   Contr.  Lib.  8  (4),  25,  14; 
Tac.  H.  2,  100  ;  id.  H.  3,  80.     For  the  use  of  the  fourth  decl.  ablative  praetextu, 
see  Antib.7,  n,  p.  371,  and  articles  there  referred  to. 

praetextum  :  Ep.  71,  9  illud  pulcherrimum  rei  publicae  praetextum,  optimates, 
et  prima  acies  Pompeianarum  partium,  senatus.  The  more  usual  meaning  of  this 
word,  when  used  metaphorically,  has  just  been  given  under  praetexere. 

sinus  :  Ep.  53,  12  (philosophia)  tela  laxo  sinu  eludit.  CompareHor.  Sat.  2,  3, 
172  (ferre)  sinu  laxo,  which  seems  proverbial,  in  the  sense  'carelessly,'  although 
not  noticed  by  Otto.  For  a  different  meaning,  see  Ep.  119,  1  sinum  laxa,  merum 
lucrum  est.  Ep.  74,  6  (the  man  who  does  not  consider  that  virtue  is  the  only 
good)  ad  haec,  quae  a  fortuna  sparguntur,  sinum  expandit  et  sollicitus  missilia 
eius  expectat.  Ep.  103,  4  (philosophia)  te  sinu  suo  proteget.  Ep.  105,  3  invidiam 
effugies  ...  si  scieris  in  sinu  gaudere  ;  cf.  our  phrase  "to  laugh  in  one's  sleeve." 

strophium  :  Ep.  26,  5  (see/ucus). 

succingere  :  Ep.  74,  26  amicorum  et  liberorum  turba  succinctus. 

velamentum  :  Ep.  21,  9  vitiorum.  Ep.  102,  25  detrahetur  tibi  haec  circum- 
iecta,  novissiinum  velamentum  tui,  cutis.  Ep.  102.  27  velamenta  nascentium. 
See  also  Ep.  92,  13,  cited  under  "Comparisons." 

Six  comparisons  taken  from  this  department  are:  Ep.  47,  16 
(it  is  as  foolish  to  judge  a  man  by  his  external  conditions  as  by 
his  CLOTHING)  ;  Ep.  51,  2  (as  certain  GAEMENTS  are  suitable  for 
a  philosopher,  so  are  certain  places) ;  Ep.  63,  11  (loss  of  a  friend 
compared  to  being  robbed  of  a  TUNIC)  ;  Ep.  92,  11-13  (the  body 
likened  to  a  GARMENT)  ;  Ep.  114,  4  (see  under  cingere)  ;  Ep.  114, 

II  (speech,  like  CLOTHING,  as  a  'sign  of  the  times');  Ep.  114, 
20-21  (literary  style  compared  to  DRESS  and  manner  of  wearing 
the  beard). 


'62.  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

D,    FAMILY  AND   DAILY  LIFE 
(a)  KELATIONSHIPS,  FAMILY  AND  SOCIAL 

Seneca  does  not  derive  many  metaphors  from  RELATIONSHIP 
BY  BLOOD.  The  Epistles  show  only  the  following  instances  : 

cognatio  :  Ep.  99,  28  quae  potest  inter  bonum  et  malum  esse  cognatio?  (refer- 
ring to  the  saying  of  Metrodorus,  quoted  below. ) 

cognatus  :  Ep.  95,  52  natura  nos  cognates  edidit.  Ep.  99,  25,  disapproves  the 
saying  of  Metrodorus,  "  esse  aliquam  cognatam  tristitiae  voluptatem." 

domesticus  :  Ep.  72,  4  domestica  illi  felicitas  est ;  exiret  ex  animo,  si  intraret : 
ibi  nascitur. 

farailiaris  :  Ep.  18,  8  fiat  nobis  paupertas  familiaris.  Ep.  18,  12  secedas  a  tuis 
rebus  minimoque  te  facias  familiarem. 

familiariter :  Ep.  94,  47  sententiae  familiariter  in  animum  receptae. 

generosus:  Ep.  44,  5  quis  est  generosus?  Ad  virtutem  bene  a  natura  con- 
positus  ;  cf.,  in  the  context,  omnes  hi  (Socrates,  Cleanthes,  Plato)  maiores  tui  sunt, 
and  animus  facit  nob  Hem. 

maiores  :  Ep.  44,  5  (see  generosus). 

stemma  :  Ep.  44,  1  si  quid  aliud  in  philosophia  boni,  hoc  est,  quod  stemma 
non  inspicit.  Other  instances  of  this  word,  transferred  from  its  proper  meaning 
'garland '  to  signify  'pedigree,'  are  cited  by  Lexx.  from  Persius,  Statius,  Martial, 
Juvenal,  and  Suetonius.  It  should  be  observed  that  only  one  of  these  is  a  prose 
author. 

The  comparisons  here  are  proportionately  somewhat  more 
numerous,  namely :  Ep.  34,  1  (from  a  FOSTER-FATHER)  ;  Ep. 
66,  26-27  (virtue  compared  to  a  FATHER)  ;  Ep.  73,  2  (a  good 
official,  to  a  FATHER)  ;  Ep.  84,  8  (we  should  strive  to  resemble 
him  whom  we  select  to  be  our  model  as  a  SON  does  a  father,  not 
as  a  statue  does  its  original);  Ep.  123,  10  (derived  from  the 
custom  of  a  son's  exhibiting  his  diary  for  his  FATHER'S  approval). 

There  is  a  slightly  larger  number  of  tropical  expressions  from 

SOCIAL    RELATIONS    AND    OBSERVANCES,  viz.  : 

amicitia  :  Ep.  109,  10  omnibus  inter  se  virtutibus  amicitia  est. 

conciliare :  Ep.  9,  17  hominem  homini  natura  conciliat.  Ep.  94,  56  nulli  nos 
vitio  natura  conciliat.  Ep.  121,  14  omne  animal  primnm  constitutioni  suae  con- 
ciliari. 

conciliatio  :  Ep.  121,  16  constitutionis  ;  cf.  Ep.  121,  24.  The  examples  of  this 
word  cited  by  Lexx.,  both  in  a  literal  and  a  metaphorical  sense,  are  confined  to 
Cicero  and  Quintilian,  with  the  exception  of  Donat.  ad  Ter.  Eun.  4,  4,  2. 


Generation  and  Birth 

convenire:  Ep.  112,  4  illis  (sc.  amico  tuo  luxuriaeque)  male  convenit ;  with 
the  meaning  'are  on  bad  terms  with  each  other.' 

conversari :  Ep.  99,  23  nemo  enim  libenter  tristi  conversatur,  nedum  tristitiae. 
Ep.  55,  9  conversari  cum  amicis  absentibus  licet,  is  rather  an  instance  of  hyper- 
bole. 

convicium  :  Ep.  58,  7  linguae  nostrae  convicium  feci. 

dissociare :  Ep.  90,  36  antequam  avaritia  atque  luxuria  dissociavere  mortales. 

gratia  :  Ep.  91,  15  in  gratiam  cum  fato  revertere.  Ep.  112,  3  cito  cum  ilia 
(sc.  luxuria)  redibit  in  gratiam. 

gratias  agere  ;  Ep.  81,  1  fortunae  aut  diligentiae  tuae.  Ep.  83,  3  senectuti. 
Cf.  Ep.  79,  18  nulli  non  virtus  et  vivo  et  mortuo  rettulit  gratiam,  si  modo  illam 
bona  secutus  est  fide. 

inimicus  :  Ep.  90,  18  natura. 

salutare  :  Ep.  49,  6  (supervacua)  prospicienda  tantura  et  a  limine  salutanda. 
Ep.  83,  5  kalendis  lanuariis  euripum  salutabam  (i.  e.,  used  to  go  swimming  in 
the  canal,  in  midwinter). 

solus  ;  Ep.  3,  3  quare  me  coram  illo  non  putem  solum?  (i.  e.,  'my  friend  is 
my  alter  ego'). 

The  comparisons  are  Ep.  9,  11  (love,  to  FKIENDSHIP)  ;  and 
66,  24-25  (adpetitio  in  things,  to  FRIENDSHIP  in  man).  Ep.  9, 
17  hardly  deserves  mention  here,  although  in  the  form  of  a 
simile. 

(b)  GENERATION  AND  BIRTH 

Seneca  does  not  make  much  use  of  metaphors  connected  with 
generation  and  birth  ;  being  in  this  respect  in  marked  contrast 
with  Plato  (see  Berg,  op.  cit.,  p.  25).  Almost  half  of  his  exam- 
ples are  connected  with  the  verb  nasci,  which  he  employs  thus  nine 
times  (Ep.  19,  6 ;  23,3;  71,1;  72,4;  90,9;  95,14;  114, 
20;  121,  23;  124,  24),  usually  with  an  abstract  subject.  The 
other  words  are : 

concipere  :  Ep.  79,  2  (ignis)  in  aliqua  inferna  valle  conceptus.  Ep.  104,  29 
in  iactatione  concipiente  iam  civile  bellum  (this  reading  of  Hense'sfor  the  impos- 
sible ' '  intacta ' '  of  the  MSS.  ,  while  not  entirely  satisfactory,  is  superior  to  any  of 
the  previous  conjectures).1 

edere  :  Ep.  83,  22  quas  clades  ediderit  publica  ebrietas.  Ep.  90,  44  meliora 
mundus  nondum  effetus  ediderit.  Ep.  95,  52  (natura  as  subject). 

genus :  Ep.  94,  58  (opifices)  per  quorum  manus  sterile  terrae  genus  et  infernum 
perpurgatur  (referring  to  gold  and  silver).  I  am  inclined  to  approve  Baillard's 

JA.  J.  Kronenberg  in  Class.  Quart,  i,  2  (July,  1907),  p.  211,  proposes  "in 
toga  "  ;  but  toga  concipiente  .  .  .  bellum  would  be  a  strange  phrase. 


64  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

rendering  ' c  cette  sorte  "  rather  than  Haakh's  "Erzeugniss"  ;  but  if  the  latter 
is  correct  we  have  an  exceptional  instance  of  genus  in  prose,  with  the  meaning 
'offspring,  product,'  which  Lexx.  cite  only  from  poetry,  especially  Horace,  with 
whom  it  was  a  favorite  expression  both  in  Odes  and  Satires. 

gignere  :  Ep.  95,  52,  and  102,  18,  both  times  with  natura  as  subject. 

lactere  :  Ep.  124,  11  herba  lactente.  As  applied  to  plants,  lactere  usually  means 
'  full  of  white  sap,  juicy,'  but  here  it  probably  has  the  implication  of  '  suckling,' 
through  the  influence  of  the  context,  which  is  comparing  babies  with  growing 
plants. 

parens  :  Ep.  90,  38  natura  .  .  .  parens  .  .  .  omnium. 

parere  :  Ep.  87,  31  divitiae  .  .  .  superbiam  pariunt. 

The  comparisons  connected  with  this  subject  are :  Ep.  92,  34, 
where  the  body  after  death  is  compared  to  the  SECUKDAE  ;  Ep. 
102,  23,  where  human  life  as  a  preparation  for  the  higher  exist- 
ence is  compared  to  PARTURITION,  and  this  is  further  developed, 
in  somewhat  disgusting  detail,  in  sectt.  26-28  of  the  same  letter, 
starting  from  the  sentence  "  the  day  you  dread  as  the  last  is  the 
birthday  of  eternity";  Ep.  117,  30,  where  a  man  hurrying  after 
a  MIDWIFE  for  his  daughter  is  used  to  illustrate  how  one  should 
disregard  trifles  which  hinder  his  progress  toward  wisdom. 


(c)   LOVE  AND  MARRIAGE 

The  following  nine  words  belong  here,  each  with  a  single 
example : 

adamare  :  Ep.  94,  8  virtutem. 

adulterinus  :  Ep.  71,  4  falsa  et  adulterina  bona. 

amans  :  Ep.  78,  7  amantissima  nostri  natura, 

amare  :  Ep.  88,  30  bonum  autem  suum  ideo  maxime,  quod  alicui  bono  futurum 
est,  amat  (humanitas). 

amator:  Ep.  92,  33  (animus)  corporis  .  .  .  non  amator,  sed  procurator  est. 

deliciae  :  Ep.  96,  4  ut  te  fortuna  in  deliciis  ('among  her  favorites' )  habeat. 

dos  :  Ep.  51,  1,  Baiae  is  to  be  avoided,  cum  habeat  quasdam  naturales  dotes.  In 
the  sense  'endowment,  quality,'  dos  is  quite  frequent  after  the  Augustan  period. 
See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  474. 

prostituere  :  Ep.  52,  15  postquam  prostituta  est  (philosophia). 

uxorem  ducere  :  Ep.  114,  6  (Maecenas)  uxorem  milliens  duxit,  cum  unam 
habuerit ;  cf.  Sen.  Dial.  1,  3,  10  (Maecenati)  morosae  uxoris  cotidiana  repudia 
deflenti. 

The  comparisons  are :  Ep.  22,  10  (men  complain  of  ambition 
as  they  do  of  a  SWEETHEART  ;  it  is  only  a  case  of  quarrel,  not  of 


Master  and  Slave  65 

hatred) ;  69,  3  (getting  rid  of  desire  in  general,  compared  to 
getting  rid  of  LOVE)  ;  75,  3  (an  implied  comparison  between  the 
different  attitude  which  the  philosopher  assumes  toward  various 
themes,  and  the  different  way  in  which  men  kiss  their  SWEET- 
HEARTS and  their  children) ;  95,  3  (if  Lucilius  complains  of  the 
long  letter,  which  he  has  invited,  he  should  say  "  I  have  brought 
it  upon  myself,"  and  class  himself  with  those  who  are  tormented 
by  a  WIFE  that  was  eagerly  wooed) ;  105,  6  (the  pleasantness  of 
conversation,  like  drunkenness  and  LOVE,  draws  out  secrets). 

(d)    MASTER  AND  SLAVE 

Our  author  includes  in  his  metaphorical  vocabulary  many 
expressions  derived  from  the  relations  between  master  and  slave. 
Of  course,  a  majority  of  the  cases  are  applications  of  the  Stoic 
commonplaces  about  "  freedom "  from  vice  and  error  and 
"servitude"  to  the  body  or  the  passions.  But  Seneca  shows 
considerable  skill  in  producing  variations  on  this  theme,  and  also 
applies  the  terms  to  other  spheres,  as  may  be  seen  from  this  list : 

adserere :  see  under  "Laws  and  Courts,"  p.  138. 

alligare ;  Ep.  91,  15  summos  imosque  necessitas  alligat.  Ep.  94,  15  (leges 
philosophiae)  omnia  alligant. 

circumagere  :  Ep.  8,  7,  the  man  who  submits  himself  to  philosophy  is  not 
made  to  wait  for  freedom,  statim  circumagitur.  The  reference  is  to  a  part  of  the 
ceremony  of  manumission  ;  cf.  Pers.  5,  75  una  Quiritem  |  vertigo  facit. 

conservi:  Ep.  47,  1  (the  slaves  of  Lucilius  are  really  his  fellow-slaves,  for  he 
and  they  are  equally  subject  to  fortune). 

deservire  :  Ep.  90,  19  (luxuria)  animum  corpori  addixit  et  illius  deservire 
libidini  iussit.  See  servire. 

devincire  :  Ep.  83,  16  (a  quoted  commonplace)  non  est  animus  in  sua  potestate 
ebrietate  devinctus.  Ep.  99,  8  omnis  eadem  condicio  devinxit. 

dispensare  :  Ep.  74,  28  (virtus)  inter  propinquos  liberosque  dispensat  officia. 
Ep.  88,  29  (temperantia  voluptates). 

disponere :  Ep.  28,  6  si  liceat  disponere  se.  Ep.  101,  4  quam  stultum  est 
aetatem  disponere  ne  crastini  quidem  dominum  !  Here  may  also  possibly  belong 
Ep.  99,  31  hoc  quod  vivimus  proximum  nihilost  :  et  tamen  .  .  .  late  disponitur. 

domina  :  Ep.  85,  32  artes  ministrae  sunt .  .  .  sapientia  domina  rectrixque. 

dominus  :  Ep.  33,  11  '  our  predecessors  are  not  our  masters  but  our  leaders;' 
cf.  sub  olio  moveris  and  imperia  in  sect.  7  of  the  same  letter,  respicere  ad  magistrum 
in  sect.  8  and  tutelae  suae  fiunt  in  sect.  10.  Ep.  37,  4  (adfectus)  graves  dominos 
interdum  alternis  imperantes,  interdum  pariter.  Ep.  47,  9  'how  many  masters 


66  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

he  has  among  his  slaves ! '  Ep.  90,  19  (the  body  used  to  be  a  slave,  now  it  is  the 
master).  Ep.  92,  33  (he  who  serves  the  body  finds  many  masters).  Ep.  98,  10. 
Ep.  101,  4  (see  disponere).  Ep.  104,  24  (according  to  a  doubtful  reading).  Ep. 
110,  9  (dei).  Ep.  117,  15  (sapieutia)  non  discedit  a  domino  (suo).  For  domi- 
nium,  see  under  I.  J  (b),  p.  140. 

emancipare  (-cupare):  Ep.  45,  4  non  enim  me  cuiquam  (philosopho)  emanci- 
pavi,  nullius  nomen  fero.  Ep.  116,  5  (quoted  from  Panaetius)  (amorem)  rem 
.  .  .  inpotentem,  alteri  emancupatam. 

emittere:  Ep.  24,  18  ;  70,  5  ;  88,  34  ;  110,  4.  All  of  these  refer  to  release  by 
death,  and  in  70,  5  and  88,  34,  at  least,  the  verb  seems  to  have  the  force  of 
manumittere,  as  in  Plaut.  Ps.  994  and  Ter.  Ad.  976  ;  cf.  the  phrase  manu  emittere 
which  is  not  uncommon  in  this  sense  in  comedy  and  post- Augustan  prose  (see 
Antib.7,  n,  p.  55). 

habere  :  Ep.  98,  2  (possessions  are  good)  si  qui  habet  ilia,  se  quoque  habet  nee 
in  rerum  suarum  potestate  est. 

ingenuus :  Ep.  47,  10  tarn  tu  ilium  (sc.  servum  tuum)  videre  ingenuum  potes 
quam  ille  te  servum. 

liber :  Ep.  37,  3  (one  can  become  liber  only  through  the  help  of  philosophy); 
similarly,  88,  2.  Ep.  44,  6  (though  a  man  be  a  freedman,  he  can  make  himself 
more  truly  free  than  the  free-born).  Ep.  47,  17  (see  servire}.  Ep.  65,  17  libera 
luce  (in  contrast  with  malignum  .  .  .  et  precarium  lumen).  Ep.  66,  23  libera  et 
iavicta  opera  virtutis.  Ep.  70,  16  vis  adversus  hoc  corpus  liber  esse  ?  similarly, 
76,  25  and  92,  33.  Ep.  88,  23  solae  autem  liberales  (artes)  sunt,  immo,  ut  dicam 
verius,  liberae,  quibus  curae  virtus  est.  Ep.  92,  6  animus  molestia  liber  ;  cf. 
124,  12.  Ep.  110,  20  (quoted  from  Attalus)  liber  est  autem  non  in  quern  parum 
licet  fortunae,  sed  in  quern  nihil  ;  cf.  118,  3. 

liberare  :  Ep.  80,  5  libera  te  .  .  .  metu  mortis  ;  cf.  82,  9.  Ep.  91,  21  quam 
multos  liberet  (mors)  tormentis.  Ep.  94,  13  (mentem  vitiis).  Ep.  94,  31  (he 
who  is  bound  by  vices  will  be  freed  by  instruction).  Ep.  97,  16  multos  fortuna 
liberat  poena,  metu  neminem.  Ep.  115,  6  (aciem  animi  inpedimentis). 

libertas  :  Ep.  8,  7  (true  freedom  is  found  in  the  service  of  philosophy); 
similarly,  37,  4  sapientia,  quae  sola  libertas  est ;  and  104,  16  inter  studia  ver- 
sandum  est  ...  sic  eximendus  animus  ex  miserrima  servitute  in  libertatem 
adseritur.  Ep.  12,  10  patent  undique  ad  libertatem  (i.  e.,  death)  viae  multae  ; 
cf.  26,  10  ;  70,  14  ;  70,  16  ;  77,  15 ;  88,  34.  Ep.  22,  11,  of  escape  from  public 
duties,  which  he  has  just  characterized  as  servitus.  Ep.  51,  9  (see  servire)]  cf.  65, 
16;  75,  18  (where  Seneca  defines  at  considerable  length  what  he  means  by  such 
'freedom,'  and  ends  by  saying  inaestimabils  bonum  est  suum  fieri);  80,  4;  85,  28. 
Ep.  88,  29  terribilia  et  sub  iugum  libertatem  nostram  mittentia.  Ep.  95,  72 
(Catonis  vulnus)  per  quod  libertas  emisit  animam.  Ep.  123,  3  magna  pars 
libertatis  est  bene  moratus  venter. 

mancipium  :  Ep.  47,  17  (see  servire).  Ep.  65,  21  ad  maiora  genitus,  quam  tu 
mancipium  sim  mei  corporis.  Ep.  74,  17,  we  know  that  seeming  good  things 
mancipia  nostra  esse,  non  paries.  For  a  different  meaning  of  mancipium,  see  under 
"  Wealth,  Property,"  etc.,  p.  106. 

minister  (-tra)  :  Ep.  85,  32  (see  d&mina  ).  Ep.  88,  18  (painters,  sculptors, 
and  marble- workers  are  luxuriae  ministri).  Ep.  92,  1  in  animo  esse  partes 
ministras,  per  quas  movemur  alimurque. 


Master  and  Slave  67 

ministerium  ;  Ep.  26,  2  tantum  vitia  et  vitiorum  ministeria  senuerunt :  viget 
animus.  Ep.  88,  25  aliquid  nobis  praestat  geometriae  ministerium. 

ministrare ;  Ep.  95,  18  qui  nondum  se  deliciis  solverant,  qui  sibi  imperabant, 
sibi  ministrabant.  Ep.  95,  47  (deus)  humane  generi  ministrat. 

obligare :  Ep.  94,  31  ilium  .  .  .  vitiosis  obligatum.  Ep.  95,  35  si  volumus 
habere  (homines)  obligates  et  malis,  quibus  iam  tenentur,  avellere. 

paedagogus  :  see  under  "Education,"  p.  77. 

pilleum  :  Ep.  47,  18  dicet  aliquis  nunc  me  vocare  ad  pilleum  servos  et  dominos 
de  fastigio  suo  deicere ;  cf.  18,  3,  where  the  people  celebrating  the  Saturnalia 
are  called  pilleata  turba. 

potestas :  Ep.  59,  4  habes  verbain  potestate.  Ep.  83,  16  (see  devincire).  Ep. 
89,  15  habere  cupiditates  in  tua  potestate.  Ep.  90,  34  potentissimum  esse  qui  se 
habet  in  potestate.  Ep.  91,  21  non  sumus  in  ullius  potestate,  eum  mors  in  nostra 
potestate  sit.  Ep.  93,  2  cum  animus  .  .  .  ad  se  potestatem  sui  transtulit.  Ep.  98, 
2  (see  habere).  Ep.  113,  29  (Alexander)  omnia  potius  haberet  in  potestate  quam 
adfectus. 

servilis  :  Ep.  37,  4  humilis  res  est  stultitia,  .  .  .  servilis,  multis  affectibus^et 
saevissiinis  subiecta. 

servire  :  Ep,  8,  7  philosophiae.  Ep.  14,  1  (corpori).  Ep.  26,  10  qui  mori 
didicit,  servire  dedidicit.  Ep.  39,  6  voluptatibus  ;  cf.  116,  1.  Ep.  47,  17  "  He 
is  a  slave.  But  perhaps  he  is  free  in  soul.  He  is  a  slave.  Will  that  be  any 
detriment  to  him?  Point  out  a  man  who  is  not.  One  serves  lust;  another, 
avarice  ;  another,  ambition  ;  all,  hope  and  fear.  I  will  show  you  a  consular 
serving  a  wretched  old  woman,  a  rich  man  serving  a  maid-servant ;  young  men  of 
the  best  families  who  are  the  bond-slaves  of  ballet-dancers :  no  slavery  is  more 
shameful  than  a  voluntary  one."  Ep.  51,  9  quae  sit  libertas,  quaeris?  Nulli 
rei  servire,  nulli  necessitati,  nullis  casibus.  Ep.  66,  32  non  enim  servit  (ratio), 
sed  imperat  sensibus.  Ep.  80,  1  non  servio  illis  (sc.  prioribus),  sed  assentior. 
Ep.  88,  34  (of  the  soul,  confined  in  the  body)  an  non  amplius  quam  semel  serviat. 
Ep.  90,  27  (sapientia)  artes  sub  dominio  habet.  Nam  cui  vita,  illi  vitae  quoque 
ornantia  serviunt.  Ep.  92,  1  (the  irrational  part  of  us  serves  the  rational)  ;  cf. 
92,  9.  Ep.  92,  33  nemo  liber  est,  qui  corpori  servit.  Ep.  98,  14  fortuitis.  Ep. 
110,  9  avaritiae.  Ep.  110,  19  (quoted  from  Attalus)  quid  interest,  magna  sint 
an  exigua,  quae  servire  te  cogant?  See  R.  PICHON,  "Servire  chez  Sdn^que," 
Rev.  d.  Philol.,  1897,  1.  liv.,  p.  10.  Cf.  deservirc. 

servitus  :  Ep.  22,  11  (referring  to  the  burden  of  duties  and  occupations)  paucos 
servitus,  plures  servitutem  tenent.  Ep.  47,  17  (see  servire).  Ep.  65,  20  animam 
solutam  legibus  servitutis  humanae ;  cf.  80,  4.  Ep.  70,  12  (animus)  vincula 
servitutis  (sc.  vitae)  abrumpat ;  cf.  70,  19  servitutis  humanae  claustra  perrumpe- 
rent ;  and  71,  29.  Ep.  90,  10  sub  marmore  atque  auro  servitus  habitat.  Ep.  104, 
16  (see  libertas ). 

servus :  Ep.  47,  10  (see  ingenuus).  Ep.  66,  23  omnia  enim  ista,  in  quae 
dominium  casus  exercet,  serva  sunt,  pecunia  et  corpus  et  honores.  Ep.  90,  19 
(see  dominus). 

subicere :  Ep.  9,  15  (summum  bonum)  incipit  fortunae  esse  subiectum.  Ep. 
37,  4  (see  scwilis).  Ep.  74,  17  etiam  si  apud  nos  (commoda)  sint,  inter  subiecta  et 
humilia  numerentur.  Ep.  92,  33  (the  soul  does  not  make  itself  the  subject  of 
the  body,  over  which  it  has  been  placed).  Ep.  124,  12  animus  .  .  .  alia  subiciens 
sibi,  se  nulli. 


68  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

subigere :  Ep.  69,  5  lit  vitia  .  .  .  subigantur. 

sui  iuris:  see  under  u  Laws  and  Courts,"  p.  141. 

vernilitas  :  Ep.  95,  2  haec  sive  levitas  est  sive  vernilitas,  punienda  est.  In 
this  sense  of  'obsequiousness,'  vernilitas  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here. 

vinculum  (vinclum):  Ep.  37,  1  quod  maximum  vinculum  est  ad  bonam  men- 
tern,  promisisti.  Ep.  65,  16  (animus)  in  vinclis  est.  Ep.  102,  30  (animus) 
retinetur  corporis  vinculo.  Ep.  117,  6  (Stoici)  primo  vinculo  tenentur  et  mutare 
illis  formulam  non  licet. 

Seneca  also  introduces  the  following  comparisons:  Ep.  61,  3 
(willing  OBEDIENCE  TO  MASTERS  ;  to  circumstances) ;  66,  23 
(judging  a  man's  character  by  his  bodily  condition  is  like 

JUDGING    A   MASTER   BY   THE   DRESS   OF   HIS   SLAVES)  ;     77,  14- 

15  (effective  application  of  the  story  of  the  SPARTAN  CAPTIVE 
who  committed  suicide  rather  than  perform  degrading  service)  ; 
80,  4—5  (slaves  even  deprive  themselves  of  food  in  order  to 
PURCHASE  FREEDOM;  Lucilius  should  purchase  moral  freedom 
at  any  price) ;  80,  8-10  (from  SLAVE-DEALERS'  TRICKS  to  con- 
ceal defects).  Particular  classes  of  slaves  are  mentioned  only 
in  two  comparisons :  Ep.  27,  5  (NOMENCLATOR)  and  66,  53 
(MASSEUR).  From  the  punishment  of  slaves,  there  are  brief 
comparisons  in  Ep.  65,  21  (FETTER)  and  86,  10  (by  FIRE), 

(e)    EATING,  DRINKING,  PREPARATION  OF  FOOD 

This  is  another  favorite  source  of  metaphor.  The  Moral 
Epistles  have  about  80  examples,  of  which  the  large  majority 
are  connected  with  food  and  cooking.  The  list  of  words  is  as 
follows : 

(1)    Eating 

alere  :  Ep.  84,  1  (lectio  ingenium).  Ep.  88,  19  (artes  virtutem).  Ep.  94,  30 
ingenii  vis  praeceptis  alitur.  Cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  460  (libertas  animum)  and  Here. 
Fur.  929  ( pax  gentes ). 

alimentum  ;  Ep.  79,  2  (ignis)  in  ipso  monte  non  alimentum  habet.  In  the 
context  occur  devoretur,  exest,  and  pascitur.  Ep.  117,  19  de  siderum  alimento  ; 
but  the  text  is  somewhat  doubtful,  see  Schweighauser's  Notae  ad  loc. 

comedere  :  Ep.  122,  14  multi  bona  ('property')  comedunt.     Cf.  exedere. 

consumere  :  Ep.  24,  18  mors  nos  aut  consumit  aut  exuit.  Ep.  77, 16  voluptates 
ipsas  .  .  .  consumpsisti.  Ep.  79,  6  (of  literary  work)  multum  interest,  utrum 
ad  consumptam  materiam  an  ad  subactam  accedas.  It  is  possible  that  the  word 
here  reverts  to  its  original  literal  meaning.  Ep.  91,  10  urbium  iam  fundamenta 
consumpta  sint.  Ep.  95,  41  cena  .  .  .  equestrem  censum  consumente. 


Eating  69 

devorare  :  Ep.  66,  29  animi  firmitatem  .  .  .  gemitus  devorantem.  Ep.  79,  2 
raontem  (sc.  Aetnam),  qui  devoretur  cotidie.  Ep.  82,  18  devorata  unius  mail 
patientia.  For  devorare,  'endure,'  cf.  Cic.  Brut.  67,  236  (ineptias  ac  stultitias); 
id.  Phil.  6,  6,  17  (raolestiam);  Quint.  11,  2,  41  (taedium);  Tert.  Kes.  Cam.  54 
(bilem  et  dolorem);  see  also  Antib.7,  I,  p.  435.  Ep.  91,  9  oppida  .  .  .  devorata 
sunt  (by  earthquakes). 

exedere :  Ep.  79,  2  quia  non  ipsum  (sc.  montera)  exest.  The  text  is  unsatis- 
factory, but  apparently  ignis  is  subject.  Ep.  80,  6  aerumnas  cor  ipsum  exeden- 
tes.  Ep.  92,  34  ignis  illud  (sc.  corpus)  exedat.  Ep.  101,  8  cupiditas  futuri 
exedens  animum.  Ep.  112,  2  (vitis),  si  vetus  et  exesa  est  ('wasted  away'); 
similarly  Sen.  Ag.  764  (vestis)  exesa  cingit  ilia.  Cf.  comedere.  It  is  to  be  ob- 
served that  the  simple  edere  is  not  used  metaphorically  in  the  Epistles,  but  we 
find  edax  with  livor  in  Sen.  Phaed.  493  and  with  vetustas  in  id.  Oed.  536. 

exsatiare  :  Ep.  99,  1  (of  one  suffering  from  a  recent  bereavement)  exsatiet  se 
aut  certe  primum  impetum  effundat. 

ieiunus :  Ep.  88,  19  quid  enim  .  .  .  liberale  habent  isti  ieiuni  vomitores, 
quorum  corpora  in  sagina,  animi  in  macie  et  veterno  sunt  ?  Note  the  oxymoron 
with  vomitores  involved  in  the  play  on  the  literal  meaning  of  the  word  and  its 
tropical  force  of  'insignificant,  contemptible.' 

implere  :  Ep.  19,  7,  where  the  trite  metaphors  with  implere  and  satiare  are 
effectively  expanded. 

innutrire  :  Ep.  2,  2  certis  ingeniis  inmorari  et  innutriri  oportet.  Cf.  Veil.  2, 
94,  1  (disciplinis),  so  also  Sen.  Dial.  11,  2,  5  (21) ;  Sil.  2,  286  (castris  et  armis); 
Pliny,  Pan.  16,  1  (laudibus)  ;  Suet.  Aug.  3  (opibus).  The  verb  is  post- Augustan 
and  not  common. 

nutrire:  Ep.  25,  2  nutriendus  est  hie  pudor ;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  134  (malum); 
Ep.  31,  4  (labor  animos). 

panis:  Ep.  87,  3  (caricae),  si  panem  habeo,  pro  pulmentario  sunt,  si  non 
habeo,  pro  pane. 

sal :  Ep.  7,  3  casu  in  meridianum  spectaculum  incidi  lusus  expectans  et  sales 
et  aliquid  laxamenti. 

satiare  :  Ep.  19,  7  (see  implere). 


(2)  Preparation  and  Serving  of  Food 

concoquere  :  Ep.  2,  4  (referring  to  reading,  and  preceded  by  an  implied  simile 
with  digestion)  unumexcerpe,  quod  illo  die concoques.  'Digest'  is  the  classical 
meaning  for  this  word  ;  but  see  Ep.  86,  11,  quoted  under  decoquere. 

condire  :  Ep.  66,  46  (if  other  pleasant  things  fall  to  a  man's  lot)  non  augent 
summum  bonum,  sed  ut  ita  dicam,  condiunt  et  oblectant. 

conditivum  :  Ep.  82,  2  multum  interest  inter  otium  et  conditivum.  This, 
which  is  properly  the  neuter  of  the  rare  adjective  meaning  '  suitable  for  storing 
away  or  preserving,'  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Sen.  Ep.  60,  4  and  Inscr.  Orelli 
4511,  with  the  meaning  'a  tomb,'  and  here,  by  metonymy,  'death.' 

coquere  :  Ep.  70,  4  vita  .  .  .  alios  maceravit  et  coxit.  In  this  sense  the  verb 
is  confined  to  poetry  (cf.  Sen.  Here.  Get.  1396  non  virus  artus,  nate,  femineum 


70  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

coquit)  and  post- Augustan  prose,  being  often  combined  with  macerare.  Ep.  90, 
19  hinc  fabrorum  officinae  sunt,  hinc  odores  (accusative)  coquentium.  Ep.  124, 
11  frumentum  aestas  et  debita  maturitas  coxit.  This  use  of  coquere  is  found  in 
Plautus,  Varro,  Vergil,  Cicero,  the  elder  Pliny,  and  Martial.  See  A.  KOEHLEB, 
"  Zum  metaphorischen  coquere,"  in  A.  L.  L.  X,  2,  pp.  289-291.  Cf.  concoquere, 
decoquere,  and  discoquere. 

decoquere  :  Ep.  86,  11  ( some  people  consider  Scipio  very  boorish,  because  he 
did  not  put  windows  in  his  caldarium)  quod  non  in  multa  luce  decoquebatur  et 
expectabat,  ut  in  balneo  concoqueret ;  cf.  108,  16  decoquere  corpus,  also  referring 
to  bathing. 

despumare :  Ep.  68,  13  haec  aetas  optime  facit  ad  haec  studia  :  iam  despu- 
mavit.  Iam  vitia  primo  fervore  adulescentiae  indomita  lassavit ;  cf.  Dial.  4,  20, 
3  (nimius  fervor).  Ep.  99,  27  cum  aliquid  lacrimarum  adfectus  effuderit  et,  ut 
ita  dicam,  despumaverit.  Lexx.  cite  despumare  in  this  tropical  sense  from  Seneca 
only. 

destillare  :  Ep.  24,  5  (Scaevola)  spectator  destillantis  in  hostili  foculo  dex- 
terae ;  cf.  66,  51  (the  same  phrase,  in  the  same  connection).  Ep.  78,  1  eo  per- 
ductus  sum,  ut  ipse  destillarem  ad  summam  maciem  deductus. 

discoquere  :  Ep.  122,  3  epulis  ...  in  multa  fericula  discoctis.  The  text  here 
is  doubtful ;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  cf.  Schweighiiuser's  Notae  ad  loc. 

farcire  :  Ep.  108,  15  edacibus  et  se  ultra  quam  capiunt  farcientibus.  Ep.  119, 
14  (luxuria)  non  impleat  ventrem,  sed  farciat. 

frustum  :  Ep.  89,  2  philosophiam  in  partes,  non  in  frusta,  dividam. 

infulcire :  Ep.  24,  22  quaeris,  quid  huic  epistulae  infulserira.  Ep.  106,  5  ut 
aliud  quoque,  de  quo  non  quaeris,  infulciam.  Ep.  114,  19  omnibus  locis  hoc 
verbum  infulcire.  This  verb  is  uncommon,  both  in  the  literal  and  the  tropical 
sense ;  cf .,  for  the  former,  Frontin.  Strat.  3,  13,  4  (litteras)  and  Suet.  Tib.  53 
(cibum),  and,  for  the  latter,  Sen.  Ben.  3,  28,  2  (deum)  and  Capitol.  Macrin. 
(Peter,  Script.  Hist.  Aug.  xv)  5,  6  (se  in  nomen  Severi). 

lanx  :  Ep.  119,  5  "  Inani  me"  inquis  " lance  muneras  .  .  .  Ego  iam  paraveram 
fiscos  .  .  .  Decipere  est  istud,  docere  paupertatem,  cum  divitias  promiseris." 

macerare  :  Ep.  49,  6  quid  te  torques  et  maceras  in  ea  quaestione  ?  Ep.  70,  4 
(see  coquere} .  Ep.  81,  23  torquet  ingratus  se  et  macerat.  Ep.  104,  19  ista  urgue- 
bunt  mala  macerabuntque.  See  Antib.7,  11,  p.  42. 

(3)  Drinking 

bibere  :  Ep.  81,  22  (quoted  from  Attalus)  malitia  ipsa  maximam  partem  veneni 
sui  bibit.  Cf.  conbibere  and  perbibere. 

conbibere  :  Ep.  49,  1  lacrimas. 

ebrietas  :  Ep.  114,  22  ista  orationis  quid  aliud  quam  ebrietas  nulli  molesta  est, 
nisi  animus  labat. 

exhaurire  :  Ep.  15,  3  (labor  spiritum).  Ep.  46,  1  (totum  librum).  Ep.  84, 
2  (writing)  contristabit  vires  et  exhauriet.  In  a  different  sense,  Ep.  94,  68  ple- 
num malis  sermonibus  pectus  exhauriendum. 

faex  :  Ep.  58,  33  quaeremus,  pars  summa  vitae  utrum  ea  faex  sit  an  liquidissi- 
mum  ac  purissimum  quiddam.  This  metaphor  is  suggested  by  a  comparison  in 


Drinking  71 

the  preceding  section.  Ep.  75,  18  ex  hac  aliquando  faece  in  illud  evadimus 
sublime  et  excelsum.  Ep.  90,  45,  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones  sought  in  imct 
terrarum  faece.  Ep.  94,  58  nihil  est  illis  (i.  e.,  gold,  silver  and  iron),  dum  fiunt 
et  a  faece  sua  separantur,  informius ;  cf.  Pliny,  N.  H.  33,  103  (stibii)  and  34,  135 
(aeris). 

haurire:  Ep.  15,  11  (see  sitis).  Ep.  99,  5  adquiescamus  iis,  quae  iam  hausi- 
mus,  si  modo  non  perforate  animo  hauriebaraus  et  transmittente  quicquid 
acceperat.  Ep.  108,  2  (of  the  study  of  philosophy)  non  quantum  vis,  sed 
quantum  capis,  hauriendum  est.  Cf.  exhaurire. 

libamentum  :  Ep.  84,  5  quaecumque  ex  diversa  lectione  congessimus,  separare, 
.  .  .  deinde  ...  in  unum  saporem  varia  ilia  libamenta  confundere.  The  context 
is  a  comparison  with  bees  gathering  honey.  I  find  no  other  place  where  this 
word  is  applied  to  random  reading,  with  the  force  of  'cullings,  sippings'  ;  but 
for  its  use  in  the  sense  of  'trial,  sample,'  cf.  Cic.  Kep.  2,  24,  44  dona  magnifica, 
quasi  libamenta  praedarum,  Delphos  ad  Apollinem  misit ;  Gell.  praef.  sect.  13 
quasi  libamenta  ingenuarum  artium  and  16,  8,  15  breve  ex  dialectica  libamentum. 

nota :  Ep.  15,  3  pessimae  notae  mancipia.  Ep.  24,  23  his  adicias  et  illud 
eiusdem  notae.  Ep.  42,  1  (vir  bonus)  secundae  notae.  Ep.  52,  3  nos  ex  ilia 
prima  nota  non  sumus.  Ep.  110,  1  (deus)  inferioris  notae.  The  metaphor  in 
these  cases  seems  to  come  from  the  mark  placed  upon  a  wine-cask  to  indicate  age 
or  quality,  as  in  Cic.  Brut.  83,  287  and  Hor.  Od.  2,  3,  6  and  Sat.  1,  10,  24  :  being 
thence  transferred  to  mean  '  kind,  quality '  in  general ;  cf .  our  use  of  the  phrase 
'  of  that  stamp.'  AEM.  THOMAS  in  Hermes  xxvin,  p.  302,  remarks  that  Seneca 
is  fond  of  using  nota  in  this  way,  and  cites  15  examples  from  his  various  works. 
As  similar  instances  elsewhere,  cf.  Curius  ap.  Cic.  Fam.  7,  29,  1  (nos  de  meliore 
nota  commenda) ;  Col.  9,  15  (secundae  notae  mel) ;  id.  12,  17  (primae  notae 
acetum);  id.  ib.  57  (caseus  cuiuscumque  notae);  id.  ib.  38  (alterius  myrteae 
notae  compositio) ;  Petr.  83  (ex  hac  nota  literatorum):  id.  116  (urbanioris  notae 
homines)  ;  id.  126  (ex  hac  notadomina  est);  id.  132  (severioris  notae  homines). 
With  the  example  from  Sen.  Ep.  15,  3,  however,  cf.  Suet.  Calig.  27,  where  the 
word  means  the  brand  on  the  body  of  a  slave.  It  is  used  in  a  different  sense  in 
Ep.  95,  65  signa  cuiusque  virtutis  ac  vitii  et  notas  reddentem. 

perbibere:  Ep.  36,  3  perbibere  liberalia  studia.  Ep.  71,  31  (lana  colores). 
Ep.  94,  11  hoc  cum  persuasi  mihi  et  perbibi. 

sitire  :  Ep.  83,  25  (Antonius)  vino  gravis  sitiret  tamen  sanguinem. 

sitis  :  Ep.  15,  11  ista  insidiosa  bona  .  .  .  haurientium  sitim  concitant. 

sorbere  :  Ep.  4,  7  eodem  die  ubi  luserunt  navigia,  sorbentur. 

The  comparisons  which  belong  in  this  category  are  :  From 
EATING  and  FOOD,  Ep.  2,  3;  2,  4  ;  63,  6,  quoted  from  Attalus 
(when  we  think  of  living  friends  it  is  like  enjoying  honey  and 
cake  ;  the  memory  of  those  who  are  dead  is  also  pleasant,  though 
it  has  a  tang  of  bitterness);  88,  24-25;  88,  31;  95,  29. 
HUNGER,  Ep.  94,  5-6.  BANQUET,  Ep.  64,  2  (desultory  conver- 
sation compared  to  that  at  a  banquet);  73,  8;  77,  8  ;  114,  11. 


72  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

WINE,  Ep.  36,  2  ("A  man  can  carry  good  fortune  well"  ;  yes, 
just  as  one  carries  wine);  63,  5,  quoted  from  Attalus  (the  memory 
of  dead  friends  is  like  bitter  wine) ;  83, 16,  quoted  as  a  rhetorical 
commonplace.  DRUNKENNESS,  Ep.  58,  32  (he  is  not  far  from 
fear,  who  awaits  his  fate  reluctantly,  as  he  is  unduly  given  to 
wine,  who  drains  the  amphora,  dregs  and  all),  this  passes  into 
a  metaphor  of  'the  dregs  of  life'  in  the  next  section;  95,  16 
(debauchees  who,  even  when  sober,  stagger  as  when  drunk) ; 
105,  6  ;  114,  4  (of  the  style  of  Maecenas)  ;  and  similarly,  114, 
22.  In  Ep.  85,  23  life  is  compared  to  EATING  AND  DRINKING, 
in  which  one  person  is  satisfied  with  more,  another  with  less,  but, 
in  the  case  of  each,  the  happiness  depends  upon  the  mere  fact  of 
being  satisfied. 

(f)  AMUSEMENTS 

The  various  amusements  of  the  Romans  furnished  Seneca  with 
a  fairly  large  number  of  illustrations  and  tropes,  about  half  of 
them  coming  from  the  arena  and  public  athletic  contests.  Athletic 
metaphors  are  favorites  with  the  Roman  orators  and  rhetoricians 
(e.  g.,  Cicero  and  Quintiliau),  as  they  are  with  the  Greeks.  See 
O.  Schmidt,  op.  cit.,  p.  31  f.  In  the  case  of  the  theatre,  the 
number  of  comparisons  is  almost  as  large  as  that  of  the  metaphors, 
and  in  the  case  of  the  foot-race  it  is  even  larger  (3  : 2).  The 
examples  under  each  subdivision  are  : 

(1)    Games  and  Amusements  in  General 

adludere  :  Ep.  72,  10  eorum,  qui  sapientiae  adludunt. 

alea :  Ep.  58,  34  stultus  est,  qui  non  exigua  temporis  mercede  magnae  rei  aleam 
redimit.  Such  passages  as  Dig.  18,  1,  8,  §  1  and  18,  4,  7  indicate  that  aleam 
emere  was  a  legal  term  for  buying  something  uncertain.  Ep.  99,  12  (life  described 
as  aleam  in  damnum  certiorem).  Ep.  117,  20  subibo  huius  voti  aleam. 

cernulare  :  Ep.  8,  4  non  vertit  fortuna,  sed  cernulat  et  allidit.  This  verb, 
meaning  'throw  headlong,'  is  found  only  here  and  in  Gloss.  Philox.  p.  99,  49  G. 
cernulat,  Kv/Sto-rtai.  It  is  connected  with  the  verb  cernuare,  '  throw  (or  fall)  head- 
long,' which  is  cited  from  Varro,  ap.  Non.  p.  21,  8  Merc.  ;  Ap.  Met.  1,  19 ; 
Fronto,  Princ.  Hist.  5 ;  Solin.  17  and  45  ;  Jul.  Val.  Gesta  Alex.  1,  12  Kiibler ; 
Prud.  Symm.  1,  350  ;  cf .  Gloss.  Philox.  p.  100,  3  G.  cernuit,  fl-eTreratf/Hc-Tcu. 
Cernulus  is  found  in  Ap.  Met.  9,  38  (p.  218,  1.  8,  v.  d.  Vliet) ;  Gloss.  Philox.  p. 
99,  57  G.  cernuli,  ireravpHTTal  and  p.  100,  2  G.  cernulus,  ireravpiffT^s ;  Gloss. 


The  Theatre  73 

Nom.  p.  572,  38  G.  cernulus,  ingeniosus,  perversus.  For  the  word  cernuus, 
which,  as  an  adjective,  means  '  with  face  downward,  stooping  forward,'  and,  as  a 
noun,  'a  tumbler,  mountebank,'  various  etymologies  have  been  suggested,  includ- 
ing Non.  p.  20,  29  f.  Merc.  "  cernuus  dicitur  proprie  inclinatus,  quasi  quod  terrain 
cernit,"  and,  to  the  same  effect,  Serv.  ad  Verg.  A.  10,  894.  It  is  cited  from 
Lucil.  ap.  Non.  p.  21,  1  Merc;  Verg.  A.  10,  894  (&TT.  Xer);  Sil.  10,  255; 
Arnob.  7,  41,  246  ;  Prud.  Cath.  7,  43  ;  Auson.  Mosel.  (=X,  Peiper),  272. 

circulari :  Ep.  40,  3  vim  dicendi .  .  .  aptiorem  esse  circulanti  quam  agenti  rem 
magnam  ac  seriam  docentique.  Ep.  52,  8  eligamus  non  eos  (sc.  philosophos) , 
qui  ...  in  private  circulantur.  Ep.  88,  40  Apion  gramrnaticus,  qui  .  .  .  tota 
circulatus  est  Graecia. 

circulator :  Ep.  29,  7  circulatores,  qui  philosophiam  honest  ius  neglexissent 
quam  vendunt.  This  may  belong  rather  under  "  Arts  and  Trades,"  cf.  Asin.  ap. 
Cic.  Earn.  10,  32,  3  (auctionum). 

ludere:  Ep.  4,  7  (navigia,  subject;  see  sorbere,  p.  71).  Ep.  18,  7  per  quod 
luxuria  .  .  .  ludit.  Ep.  70,  3  alium  .  .  .  venti  segnes  ludunt  ac  detinent.  Ep. 
Ill,  4  ludit  istis  (sc.  cavillationibus )  animus. 

ludus  :  Ep.  104,  15  Maeander,  poetarum  omnium  exercitatio  et  ludus.      Cf. 
under  "Education,"  p.  77. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  24,  13,  those  who  fear  torture,  to  boys 
frightened  by  MASKS.  Ep.  45,  8,  the  fallacies  of  the  sophists, 
to  SLEIGHT-OF-HAND  tricks.  Ep.  106,  11,  an  implied  compari- 
son of  sophistical  quibbles  and  paradoxes  to  playing  CHESS 
(latrunculis). 

(2)   The  Theatre 

agere  :  Ep.  120,  22,  a  well-sustained  metaphor,  starting  frpm  the  statement  that 
it  is  only  the  philosopher  who  can  play  the  part  of  one  man  ;  all  others  show 
many  characters. 

fabula  :  Ep.  115,  15  dabat  in  ilia  fabula  (the  Danae  of  Euripides,  from  which 
Seneca  had  just  quoted  a  passage)  poenas  Bellerophontes,  quas  in  sua  quisque 
dat. 

mimus  :  Ep.  26,  5  siraulatio  fuerit  et  mimus,  quicquid  contra  fortunam  iactavi 
verborum  contumacium  ;  cf.  Cic.  Att.  1,  16,  13  and  Sen.  Apoc.  9,  3.  Ep.  80,  7 
hie  humanae  vitae  mimus.  This  is  followed  by  a  long  simile.  Cf.  Suet.  Aug.  99 
(the  dying  words  of  Augustus)  mimum  vitae.  The  phrase  was  a  favorite  one 
with  the  Stoics  ;  see Teuff. - Warr,  Hist.  Kom.  Lit.,  7,  4  and  U.  von  WILAMOWITZ, 
in  Hermes,  xxi,  p.  626. 

pars  :  Ep.  14,  13  quid  tibi  cum  ista  contentione?  nullae  partes  tuae  sunt  .  .  . 
Ultimas  partes  attigi  Catonis  (Pauly  translates  "  die  letzte  Kolle,"  and  Baillard 
"denoument").  Cf.  priores partes  in  Ter.  Eun.  151,  and  Cic.  Q.  Fr.  3,  4,  4  and 
Brut.  21,  84.  Ep.  78,  18  bonas  partes  tecum  ipse  tracta.  In  rejecting  Madvig's 
conjecture  of  "  artes,"  Hense  says  there  is  an  allusion  to  a  play,  and  compares 
Ep.  77,  20 ;  80,  7 ;  115,  15,  and  elsewhere.  Ep.  80,  7,  in  connection  with 
mimus,  q.  v.  Ep.  109,  6  potest  (sapiens)  .  .  .  etiam  relictus  sibi  explicare  partes 


74  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

suas.  This  transfer  of  partes  from  the  theatrical  sphere  is  classical  ;  and  it  is  to 
be  observed  that  Seneca  follows  the  best  usage  by  employing  the  plural  in  all  of 
these  instances  ;  cf.  Antib.7,  n,  p.  244  f. 

persona  :  Ep.  120,  22  mutamus  subinde  personam  ( part  of  the  extended  meta- 
phor mentioned  under  agere).  Cf.  personata  felicitas,  occurring  in  the  comparison 
of  life  to  a  mime  in  Ep.  80,  7-8,  cited  below. 

quattuordecim  (sc.  ordines):  Ep.  44,  2  multis  quattuordecim  clausi  sunt ;  i.  e., 
they  cannot  enter  the  equestrian  order.  Cf.  Suet.  Caes.  39  sessum  in  quattuor- 
decim, and  Asin.  ap.  Cic.  Fam.  10,  32,  2  in  xiiu.  sessum  deduxit. 

scaena  :  Ep.  94,  71  ambitio  et  luxuria  et  inpotentia  scaenam  desiderant.  Ep. 
99,  21  vido  ego  in  funere  suorum  verendos,  in  quorum  ore  amor  eminebat  remota 
omni  lugentium  scaena. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  76,  31  (fine  clothes  compared  to  actors' 
COSTUMES,  disguising  the  real  nature).  Ep.  77,  20,  as  in  a  DRAMA, 
so  in  life,  the  question  is  not  how  long  the  part  was,  but  how  well 
it  was  played ;  only  be  sure  to  put  a  good  clausulam.  Cf.  Cic. 
Sen.  20,  70.  Ep.  80,  7-8,  an  extended  comparison  of  life  to  a 
MIME  ;  114,  6,  the  costume  of  Maecenas  is  compared  to  that  of  a 
runaway  slave  in  a  mime.  Ep.  95,  56,  virtue  is  unlike  such  arts 
as  those  of  the  DANCER,  in  that  we  must  learn  what  it  is  before  we 
can  learn  virtue  itself;  121,  5-6,  the  agility  of  an  animal  in 
contrast  with  that  of  a  dancer.  Ep.  108,  6,  some  people  go  to  a 
philosopher  as  to  a  THEATRE,  for  pleasure,  not  instruction ;  the 
same  comparison  is  resumed  and  developed  in  sectt.  8-9. 

(3)    The  Arena  and  Athletic   Contests 

agitatio  :  Ep,  109,  2  opusest  et  sapienti  agitatione  virtutum.  The  context  is 
an  implied  comparison  with  wrestlers  and  their  training. 

auctoramentum  :  Ep.  37,  1  eadem  honestissimi  huius  et  illius  turpissimi 
auctoramenti  verba  sunt:  'uri,  vinciri  ferroque  necari.'  This  is  part  of  a 
comparison  of  the  obligations  of  a  philosopher  to  the  gladiators'  oath,  which  is 
followed  by  a  combination  of  simile  and  metaphor  in  sect.  2.  For  the  same  word 
connected  with  a  different  department,  see  under  I.  H  (a),  p.  103. 

conluctari  :  Ep.  28,  7  cum  difficultatibus  rerum.  Ep.  52,  1  quid  conluctatur 
cum  animo  nostro?  Ep.  66,  1  cum  corpusculo  suo.  Ep.  85,  6  (cum  adfectu). 

decretorius  :  Ep.  117,  25  (see  lusorius).    Cf.  under  "  Laws  and  Courts,"  p.  339. 

exercere :  Ep.  18,  8  exerceamur  ad  palum  (referring  to  the  practicing  of  vol- 
untary privation  as  a  preparation  for  possible  future  poverty).  Ep.  82,  8  si  non 
verba  exercueris,  sed  animum,  Ep.  91,  1  (firmitatem  animi  sui)  ad  ea,  quae 
timeri  posse  putabat,  exercuit.  Ep.  98,  17  ad  verum  exerceri. 

exercitatio  :  Ep.  104,  15  (see  Indus,  p.  73). 

exercitatus:  Ep.  71,  30  (ista,  quae  laudo),  nondum  tarn  parata  haberem  aut 
tarn  exercitata. 


The  Arena  and  Athletic  Contests  75 

luctari :  Ep.  22,  7  cum  officio.  Ep.  47,  7  cum  aetate.  Ep.  78,  21  cum  morbo  ; 
cf.  Sen.  Phoen.  142  (cum  morte).  Ep.  92,  24  cum  mala  fortuna.  Ep.  108,  37 
cum  ipso  mari.  Cf.  conluctari  and  obluctari. 

lusorius  :  Ep.  117,  25  tot  quaestiones  fortuna  tibi  posuit,  nondum  illas  solvisti  : 
iam  cavillaris  ?  Quam  stultum  est,  cum  signum  pugnae  acceperis,  ventilare. 
Remove  ista  lusoria  arma :  decretoriis  opus  est.  Cf.  Ep.  80,  2  spectaculum  non 
fidele  et  lusorium.  The  word  itself  is  post-classical,  being  used  several  times  by 
Seneca  and  the  elder  Pliny,  and  then  not  appearing  again  until  Lampridius  and 
Vopiscus.  It  also  occurs  in  legal  Latin  (e.  g.,  Cod.  Theod.  7,  17,  tit.,  and  Dig. 
35,  3,  4  and  43,  8,  7). 

missio :  Ep.  37,  2  sine  missione  nascimur ;  following  a  comparison  of  philoso- 
pher and  gladiator. 

obicere :  Ep.  7,  4  mane  leonibus  et  ursis  homines,  meridie  specta  tori  bus  suis 
obiciuntur, 

obluctari :  Ep.  30,  1  aetati.     Ep.  107,  12  (animus  fato). 

palum :  Ep.  18,  8  (.see  exercere). 

petaurum  :  Ep.  98,  8  oblitus  huius  petauri,  quo  humana  iactantur.  I  find  no 
other  instance  of  this  metaphor. 

proludere  :  Ep.  102,  23  per  has  mortalis  aevi  moras  illi  meliori  vitae  longiori- 
que  proluditur ;  where  the  verb  is  used  impersonally  with  the  meaning  '  preparation 
is  made  for.'  In  the  literal  sense  'practice  or  play  beforehand,'  it  is  cited  by 
Lexx.  only  from  Verg.  G.  3,  234 ;  Ov.  A.  A.  2,  515 ;  Heges.  Excid.  Hieros.  24, 
ante  med.  Tropically,  it  is  quoted  from  Oic.  De  Or.  2,  80,  325  (tor.  Xey.,  but  cf. 
prolusio  in  Div.  in  Caec.  14,  47  and  De  Or.  2,  80,  325);  Sen.  N.  Q.  3,  28,  3  ;  id. 
Med.  907  ;  id.  Phaed.  1061  ;  id.  Here.  Fur.  222  ;  Juv.  5,  26  iurgia  proludent ; 
Flor.  3,  22  (2, 10  Rossb. ),  6,  in  sense  '  opened  the  contest.'  See  Antib.7,  n,  p.  398. 

provocare  ;  Ep.  117,  7  non  faciam,  quod  victi  solent,  ut  provocem  ad  populum. 

spectaculum  :  Ep.  90,  42  insigne  spectaculum  noctium. 

ventilare :  Ep.  117,  25  (see  lusorius)  in  the  sense  '  beat  the  air.'  Similarly, 
Sen,  Excerp.  Contr.  3,  praef.  13aliud  est  pugnare,  aliud  ventilare;  cf.  Quint.  11, 
3,  118  cubitura  utrumque  in  diversum  latus  ventilet  (of  awkward  gestures); 
Mart.  5,  31,  4  in  toto  ventilat  arma  bove.  The  only  occurrence  of  the  word  in 
Cicero  is  Flacc.  23,  54  lingua  quasi  flabello  seditionis  .  .  .  contio  ventilata. 

Comparisons  :  ATHLETE,  Ep.  13,  2-3  (the  struggle  with  for- 
tune compared  to  the  hardening  of  an  athlete  by  blows,  wounds, 
and  falls);  57,  1  ;  78,  16  (the  reward  of  those  who  strive  for 
virtue,  to  that  of  the  athlete) ;  80,  3.  GLADIATOR,  Ep.  14,  15 
(implied  comparison  of  blameless  men  who  meet  with  disaster,  to 
a  skilful  gladiator  whose  accoutrements  fail  to  keep  him  from 
wounds) ;  22,  1  (based  upon  the  proverb  "  gladiatorem  in  harena 
capere  consilium") ;  30,  8  ;  37,  2  (the  gladiator  must  fight  even 
when  unwilling,  the  philosopher,  willingly ;  the  former  may  lower 
his  arm  and  implore  the  pity  of  the  people,  the  latter  can  neither 
yield  nor  beg  for  life,  he  must  die  on  his  feet  and  unconquered, 


76  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

there  is  no  discharge  for  him);  93,  12;  117,  7.  WRESTLER, 
Ep.  109,  2,  cited  under  agitatio  ;  117,  26  (health  that  is  to  come 
does  not  in  the  meantime  benefit  the  sick  man,  any  more  than  rest 
in  future  months  benefits  one  who  is  running  or  wrestling) ;  cf. 
the  detailed  simile  from  wrestling,  quoted  from  Demetrius  the 
Cynic,  in  Sen.  Ben.  7,  1,  4.  The  gifts  of  fortune  are  compared  to 
the  DISTRIBUTION  OF  GIFTS  AT  PUBLIC  GAMES,  in  a  long  and 
well-balanced  simile,  in  Ep.  74,  7-9. 

(4)  Foot-racing 

hiera(n)  :  Ep.  83,  5  quod  raro  cursoribus  even  it,  hieran  fecimus.  The  inter- 
pretation of  this  passage,  which  refers  to  a  race  between  Seneca  and  his  young 
progymnastcs,  is  doubtful.  Pauly ,  following  ' '  Lipsius'  Erklarung  des  rathselhaf- 
ten  hieran  fecimus,"  renders  "so  haben  wir  ...  das  Ziel  zu  gleicher  Zeit 
erreicht"  ;  and  similarly  Baillard,  "  nous  avons  touch£  barre  ensemble."  So  also 
H.  Lex.  suggests  that  the  phrase  is  to  be  completed  by  supplying  coronam.  Cf. 
G.  DITTENBERGER,  "DeL.  Annaei  Senecae  epistularum  loco  observationes,"  in 
Progr.  Univ.  Hal.,  W.  1894-5,  p.  iv  ff.  For  a  different  explanation,  see  F-DV., 
s.  v.  The  only  other  passages  cited  for  the  word  by  Lexx.  are  Scrib.  Comp.  99 
ad  lumborum  dolorem  et  paralyticos  antidotes  hiera,  and  similarly,  156  ;  cf. 
Theod.  Prise.  1,  19  medicamentum  ex  aloe,  quod  Graece  Tuicpa  ieph  dicitur.  It  is 
evidently  connected  with  the  Greek  iep6s,  and  whatever  the  original  phrase  may 
have  been,  is  used  in  our  passage  as  a  racers'  technical  term.1 

linea  :  Ep.  49,  4  non  solebat  mihi  tarn  velox  tempus  videri  :  nunc  incredibilis 
cursus  apparet,  sive  quia  admoveri  lineas  sentio,  sive  quia  adtendere  coepi.  For 
linea  in  the  sense  of  'boundary,  goal,'  Lexx.  cite  Varro,  L.  L.  9,  5  cum  poeta 
transilire  lineas  impune  possit ;  Cic.  Par.  3,  1,  20  transire  lineas  ;  Hor.  Ep.  1,  16, 
79  mors  ultima  linea  rerum  est ;  Cassiod.  Var.  3,  51,  where  it  occurs  in  the 
description  of  the  laying  out  of  a  race-track.  See  Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  194, 
s.  v.  linea,  3),  for  a  metaphor  of  perhaps  different  origin  in  Ter.  Eun.  640  ;  but 
cf.  C.  GERDES,  "De  translationibus  quae  dicuntur  Terentianis,"  Progr.  des 
Gymn.  zu  Leer,  1884,  p.  14 ;  A.  SONNY,  in  A.  L.  L.  ix,  p.  67  f.  ;  and  M.  C. 
Sutphen  in  A.  J.  P.  xxn,  p.  47. 

Ante  and  post,  in  Ep.  84,  11  (ambitus)  res  ...  tarn  sollicita  est, 
ne  quern  ante  se  videat,  quam  ne  quern  post  se,  may  be  regarded 
as  belonging  under  this  head.  For  the  text  of  the  concluding 
clause,  which  is  somewhat  doubtful,  see  Hense's  ap.  crit. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  85,  4  (from  Ladas,  a  famous  Greek  runner) ; 
109,  6  (one  wise  man  helps  another  as  a  runner  is  helped  by  those 
who  cheer  him  on) ;  117,  26  (see  under  "  Wrestler,"  above). 

1Cf.  E.  BICKEL,  ''Die  griechischen  Fremdworter  bei  dem  Philosophen 
Seneca,"  in  A.  L.  L.  xiv  (1905),  p.  194. 


Education  77 


(g)   EDUCATION 

There  is  nothing  particularly  striking  in  either  the  number  or 
the  character  of  the  examples  belonging  in  this  division.  I  have 
included  paedagogus  among  them,  although  perhaps  it  might  as 
appropriately  have  been  put  under  "  Master  and  Slave,"  above. 
Most  of  the  comparisons  are  merely  formal,  or  "  didactic  "  (see 
Introd.  p.  12).  The  tropical  expressions  are  as  follows: 

docere:  Ep.  15.  7  (fames,  subject).  Ep.  39,  1  (ratio).  Ep.  58,  19  (facies). 
Ep.  90,  8  (philosophia).  Ep.  94,  37  (leges).  Ep.  120,  4  (natura). 

edocere  :  Ep.  90,  26  sapientia  altius  sedet  nee  rnanus  edocet,  animorum  magi- 
stra  est. 

instituere :  Ep.  121,  6  (animalia)  instituta  nascuntur. 

ludus  :  Ep.  71,  6  relinque  istnm  ludum  litterarium  philosophorum,  qui  rem 
magnificentissimam  ad  syllabas  vocant.  The  word-play  in  ludum  litterarium  and 
ad  syllabas  is  to  be  noted.  According  to  H.  Lex.,  ludus  litterarius  is  'an  elemen- 
tary school,'  in  Plaut.  Merc.  303 ;  Quint.  1,  4,  27 ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  9,  25 ;  Tac. 
A.  3,  66  ;  and  Suet.  Calig.  45  ;  cf.  Vop.  Tac.  (Peter,  Script.  Hist.  Aug.  xxvn) 
6,  5  magistri  litterarii  ( which  is  incorrectly  cited  by  H.  Lex.  as  "Vop.  Pertin. 
8"). 

magister :  Ep.  18,  9  ille  magister  voluptatis  Epicurus.  Ep.  33,  8  ad  exemplar 
pendere  et  totiens  respicere  ad  magistrum  (describing  philosophers  who  can  only 
quote  authorities). 

magistra  :  Ep.  45,  9  (natura).  Ep.  70,  27  magistra  rerum  omnium  ratio.  Ep. 
90,  26  (see  edocere).  Ep.  94,  69  non  est  per  se  magistra  innocentiae  solitude. 
Ep.  95,  33  arte  magistra  (quoted  from  Verg.  A.  8,  442). 

paedagogus  :  Ep.  11,  9  (Epicurus)  custodem  nobis  et  paedagogum  dedit ;  cf.  25, 
6  licebit  dimittas  paedagogum  :  interim  aliquorum  te  auctoritate  custodi.  Ep.  89, 
13  (sapiens)  humani  generis  paedagogus.  Ep.  110,  1  unicuique  nostrum  paeda- 
gogum dari  deum.  Ep.  123,  11  publicos  paedagogos  (i.  e.,  the  Stoic  philoso- 
phers). 

praeceptor  :  Ep.  64,  9,  cited  among  the  comparisons,  below. 

praecipere  :  Ep.  88,  30  (liberalia  studia,  subject).    Ep.  121,  21  (natura,  subject). 

pulvis  :  Ep.  88,  39  itane  in  geometriae  pulvere  haerebo? 

rudimentum  :  Ep.  88,  1  (liberalia  studia)  rudimenta  sunt  nostra,  non  opera. 

rudis :  Ep,  90,  46  vita.     Ep.  95,  14  (vetus  sapientia).     Ep.  99,  11  anni. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  27,  5  (purely  formal)  '  Ulysses,  Achilles, 
Priam,  whom  we  know  as  well  as  we  do  our  PAEDAGOGUS.'  Ep. 
64,  9  'the  same  reverence  which  I  owe  to  my  own  TEACHERS,  I 
owe  to  those  praeceptoribus  generis  humani'  (L  e.,  the  early 
philosophers) ;  similarly,  in  73,  4,  the  officers  of  the  government 


78  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

are  compared  to  teachers,  as  worthy  of  reverence.  Ep.  74,  26-27, 
GEOMETRICAL  FIGURES  which  are  the  same,  whether  large  or 
small,  permanent  or  soon  erased,  are  used  to  illustrate  the  unchang- 
ing character  of  the  summum  bonum.  Ep.  84,  6-7  (what  we  learn 
should  be  made  our  own,  as  several  NUMBERS  are  combined  in 
one).  Ep.  87,  15-17,  the  GRAMMARIAN  is  used,  in  connection 
with  the  pilot  and  the  physician,  and  in  contrast  with  virtue,  to 
illustrate  the  falsity  of  the  proposition  '  whatever  can  happen  to  any 
base  and  vile  man  is  not  good/  Ep.  88,  20  'as  that  first  LITTE- 
RATURA,  as  our  ancestors  called  it,  by  which  the  elementa  were 
imparted  to  boys,  does  not  teach  the  liberal  arts,  but  prepares  a 
place  for  them  to  be  taught,  so  the  liberal  arts  do  not  lead  the 
mind  to  virtue,  but  clear  the  way  for  it.'  According  to  Quint.  2, 
1,  4  and  2,  14,  3  litteratura= grammatice.  In  Ep.  88,  24-27  the 
GEOMETRICIAN  is  contrasted  with  the  philosopher ;  cf.  Ep.  95,  10, 
cited  below.  In  Ep.  88,  27-28,  the  MATHEMATICIAN  is  contrast- 
ed with  the  philosopher.  In  Ep.  94,  51  the  training  of  the  mind 
is  compared  to  the  way  in  which  boys  are  TAUGHT  TO  WRITE. 
Ep.  95,  9  (the  GRAMMARIAN  is  not  ashamed  of  a  solecism  which 
he  has  committed  intentionally,  but  is  ashamed  if  he  commits  one 
ignorantly ;  in  the  art  of  living,  those  are  the  more  culpable  who 
do  wrong  voluntarily).  In  Ep.  95, 10  GEOMETRY  and  ASTRONOMY 
are  mentioned,  in  contrast  with  philosophy,  as  typical  artes  contem- 
plativae.  Ep.  124,  6  states  for  refutation  the  proposition  that,  as 
every  SCIENCE  AND  ART  must  have  its  beginning  in  something 
which  can  be  perceived  by  the  senses,  so  must  the  beata  vita. 

(h)    MISCELLANEOUS 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  section  we  must  add  quite  a  number 
of  cases  which  do  not  fall  exactly  under  any  of  its  subdivisions. 
They  are : 

adiuvare  :  Ep.  90,  19  (luxuria)  adiuvat  vitia. 

adlinere :  Ep.  7,  2  nemo  non  aliquod  nobis  vitium  .  .  .  nescientibus  adlinit. 
This  word  is  very  rare  in  any  sense  ;  cf.  Antib.7,  I,  p.  147. 

auxiliura :  Ep.  90,  20  vestis  ...  in  qua  non  dico  nullura  corpori  auxilium, 
sed  nullum  pudori  est. 


Miscellaneous  79 

beneficiarius  :  Ep.  90,  2  'what  would  there  be  in  philosophy  which  would 
deserve  admiration,'  si  beneficiaria  res  essetf  As  an  adjective,  this  is  cited  by 
Lexx.  only  here  ;  in  the  masc. ,  as  a  substantive,  it  is  a  military  term,  as  in  Caes. 
B.  C.  1,  75. 

beneficium  :  Ep.  24,  11  beneficio  eius  (sc,  mortis)  nihil  timendum  sit.  Ep.  80, 
1  non  tantum  meo  beneficio  mihi  vaco,  sed  spectaculi.  Ep.  88,  28  (mathematice) 
accipit  prima,  quorum  beneficio  ad  ulteriora  perveniat.  Ep.  90,  36  beneficia 
naturae.  Ep.  95,  21  beneficium  sexus.  Ep.  119,  5  suo  .  .  .  et  patientiae  suae 
beneficio,  non  fortunae.  Ep.  119,  16  utamur  ergo  hoc  naturae  beneficio. 

bona  pars  :  Ep.  95,  1  scio  te  in  bonam  partem  accepturum,  si  negavero.  ^Df. 
Cic.  Kosc.  Am.  16,  45  ;  id.  Ad  Brut.  1,  2,  3  ;  id.  Att.  11,  7,  8  (in  bonam 
partem  ...  in  optimam);  id.  Att.  10,  3a,  2  (in  optimam  partem);  Auct.  ad 
Herenn.  2,  26,  40  (aliarn  partem,  ac  dictum  est) ;  Cic.  Mur.  31,  64  (mitiorem  in 
partem  interpretari).  See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  68,  s.  v.  accipere,  and  references  there 
given. 

boni  consulere  :  Ep.  9,  20  ;  17,  9  ;  75,  6 ;  88,  17  ;  107,  10.  See  Antib.7,  I,  p. 
346 f.,  and  cf.  E.  B.  LEASE  in  A.  J.  P.  xxvm  (1907),  p.  36. 

castigare  :  Ep.  21,  11  (with  desideria  as  object). 

castigatio  :  Ep.  47,  19  verborum  castigatione  uteris  (contrasted  with  verberibus) . 

celebrare:  Ep.  51,  1  (locum,  i.  e.,  Baias)  sibi  celebrandum  luxuria  desumpsit. 
It  is  not  clear  whether  the  word  here  signifies  'frequent'  or  '  make  famous.' 
Pauly  translates  "zu  ihrem  Tummelplatz  gemacht  hat,"  and  Baillard,  "il  est  le 
rendez-vous  que  la  volupte*  s'est  choisi."  Ep.  67,  11  sunt  quaedam  vota,  quae 
non  gratulantium  coetu,  sed  adorantium  venerantiumque  celebrantur. 

circitare  :  Ep.  90,  19  istae  artes,  quibus  aut  circitatur  civitas  aut  strepit.  The 
verb  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here  and  in  Gloss.  Lat.-Gr.,  where  it  is  translated  by 
irepivoo-Tui  (Gloss.  Labb. )  and  Ku/c\ei)et  (Gloss.  Philox.  p.  100,  55  G. ) 

coercitio  :  Ep.  49,  1  adfectibus  tuis  inter  ipsam  coercitionem  exeuntibus.  The 
ordinary  application  of  this  word  is  to  restraint  or  punishment  by  magistrate  or 
master ;  the  only  other  passage  in  which  I  find  it  applied  to  abstract  objects  is 
Tac.  A.  3,  52,  in  connection  with  cupidines,  which  is  the  subject  of  a  preceding 
coerceri. 

committere:  Ep.  33,  8  (see  custodire).  Ep.  94,  19  (aciem  lumini).  Ep.  116, 
5  (animum  vino,  formae,  adulationi,  ullis  rebus  blande  trahentibus);  quoted  from 
Panaetius.  Ep.  121,  18  sibi  quisque  commissus  est. 

commodare  :  Ep.  62,  1  rebus  enim  me  non  trado,  sed  commodo.  Ep.  88,  10 
(digitos  avaritiae). 

custodire:  Ep.  25,  6  (see  paedagogus,  p.  77).  Ep.  33,  8  meminisse  est  rem 
commissam  memoriae  custodire.  Ep.  49,  5  (tempus)  custoditum  diligentissime. 
Ep.  92,  28  constans  ad  custodienda  optima.  Ep.  104,  4  (senectutern  ;  but  the 
text  is  doubtful).  Ep.  105,  6  garrulitatem.  Ep.  106,  5  valitudinem.  Ep.  116, 
4  se.  For  a  different  sense,  see  under  "Crimes  and  Penalties,"  p.  144. 

custos :  Ep.  11,  9  (see  paedagogus^  p.  77).  Ep.  25,  5  prodest  .  .  .  custodem 
sibi  inposuisse.  Ep.  94,  55  sit  ergo  aliquis  custos.  Ep.  95,  65  grammatici, 
custodes  Latini  sermonis. 

dare:  Ep.  79,  5  omnibus  (scriptoribus )  .  .  .  feliciter  hie  locus  (sc.  Aetna)  se 
dedit.  Ep.  93,  5  se  in  memoriam.  Ep.  99,  17  a  natura  discedimus,  populo  nos 
damus.  Ep.  120,  4  (natura  as  subject).  Ep.  124,  2  illud  (bonura)  animo  damus. 


80  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

dedere  :  Ep.  85,  28  cedere  iis,  quae  mala  vocantur,  et  illis  libertatem  suarn 
dedere.  Ep.  102,  16  eloquentiam  et  omne  aliud  stadium  auribus  deditum. 

distribuere  :  Ep.  85,  22  (vita)  in  multa  loca  multasque  partes  distributa.  Ep. 
121,  23  (natura  as  subject). 

donare  :  Ep.  78,  17  (morbus  longus)  multum  temporis  donat.  Ep.  90,  35  ea 
philosophia  .  .  .  quae  virtutem  donavit  voluptati. 

exemplar  :  Ep.  93,  8  exemplar  boni  viri  posuit. 

exemplum  :  Ep.  98,  13  simus  inter  exempla. 

mendicatio:  Ep.  101,  13  (referring  to  a  quotation  from  Maecenas )  quid  (sibi 
vult)  tarn  foeda  vitae  mendicatio  ?  This  word  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here  and 
Firm.  Mathes.  1,  3.1 

moderatrix  :  Ep.  74,  19  ratio  ;  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  5,  14,  42  (temperantia);  id.  N. 
D.  3,  39,  92  ( providentia) ;  id.  Flacc.  24,  57  (curia);  id.  Phil.  5,  18,  50  (res 
publica) ;  Stat.  Theb.  10,  365  arcanae  moderatrix  Cynthia  noctis. 

munus  :  Ep.  97,  14  (scelus)  fortuna  exornet  muneribus  suis. 

munusculum :  Ep.  10,  5  cum  aliquo  munusculo  epistulam  mittam  ;  similarly, 
16,  7  and  22,  13. 

officium  :  Ep.  74,  20  cursum  mundi  officiumque. 

praemium:  Ep.  51,  9  (libertas).  Ep.  81,  19  non  enim  exercentur  (virtutes) 
ad  praemium.  Ep.  89,  6  (wisdom  is  effectus  etc  praemium,  of  philosophy).  Ep. 
113,  31  iustae  rei.  Ep.  122,  18  peccandi  praemium  infamia  est. 

rixari :  Ep.  28,  7  (cum  vitiis).  Ep.  56,  5  dum  inter  se  non  rixentur  cupiditas 
et  timor. 

satagius  :  Ep.  98,  8  istos  satagios  ac  sibi  molestos.  The  word  is  cited  by  Lexx. 
only  here,  being  derived  from  the  colloquial  satagere  (satis  agere),  on  which  see 
Antib.7,  n,  p.  536. 

secessus  :  Ep.  117,  19  amplos  habet  ilia  (sc.  sapientia)  spatiososque  secessus. 

sumministrare  :  Ep.  104,  10  (pax  timores). 

sumministrator :  Ep.  114,  25  (animus)  sumministrator  libidinum.  Lexx.  cite 
only  here. 

suus:  Ep.  17,  9  (sapiens)  ventri  et  scapulis  suum  reddet  (i.  e.,  he  will  have 
enough  to  eat  and  wear). 

tueri  :  Ep.  95,  12  decreta  .  .  .  quae  securitatem  nostram  tranquillitatemque 
tueantur.  Ep.  97,  14  (fortuna  scelus).  Ep.  121,  15  in  quamcumque  constitu- 
tionem  venit  (herba),  earn  tuetur. 

tumultuari :  Ep.  91,  7  tumultuantibus  causis  (malorum).  Ep.  98,  7  certe  in 
tranquillo  non  tumultuatur. 

tumultus :  Ep.  14,  4  ( danger  which  threatens  us  from  the  power  of  another) 
magno  .  .  .  strepitu  et  tumultu  venit.  Ep.  24,  12  demere  rebus  tumultum  ac 
videre,  quid  in  quaque  re  sit. 

turba :  Ep.  62,  1  negotiorum.  Ep.  65,  11  causarum.  Ep.  77,  1  in  magna 
turba  navium.  Several  of  such  phrases  with  turba  are  given  by  Lexx.,  but  no 
other  instance  with  navium.  Ep.  85,  6  (adfectuurn  mediocrium).  Ep.  88,  24 
haec  quoque  liberalium  artium  turba  locum  sibi  in  philosophia  vindicat. 

1  Apparently  this  a  false  reference.  Mendacia  and  mendaciis  occur  in  this  section, 
but  not  mendicatio.  In  4,  8,  1,  however,  Kroll  &  Skutsch  give  mendicatione  as  a 
possible  variant  for  mendicitate. 


Religion  and  Mythology  81 

turbare  :  Ep.  98,  10  obliti  .  .  .  quo  illos  singuli  dies  turbent.  Ep.  104,  1  motis 
venis  ('the  pulse')  et  incertis  et  naturalem  turbantibus  modum. 

turbidus  :  Ep.  27,  2  voluptates.  Ep.  104,  22  unus  est  enim  huius  vitae  fluc- 
tuantis  et  turbidae  portus.  Ep.  124,  18  impetus  .  .  .  inordinatos  ac  turbidos. 

tutela:  Ep.  14,  1  (corporis  gerere  tutelam).  Ep.  33,  10  (of  men  who  can  only 
quote  the  maxims  of  others)  isti,  qui  numquam  tutelae  suae  fiunt.  Ep.  50,  9 
(virtutum).  Ep.  90,  38  (rerum  natura)  ut  parens  ita  tutela  omnium. 

tutor :  Ep.  58,  28  inmortalia  tutore  non  egerent. 

tutus  :  Ep.  79,  4  (nives  ab  igne) . 

verba  dare  :  Ep.  25,  3  mihi  verba  non  dat  (the  subject  is  intermissio  eius, 
referring  to  the  temporary  reformation  of  a  vicious  man).  Ep.  32,  1  verba  dare 
non  potes :  tecum  sum ;  cf.  Gell.  17,  2,  24  (Quadrigarius)  verba  Cominium 
dedisse  Gallis  dicit,  qui  nihil  quicquam  cuiquam  dixerat ;  .  .  .  sed  verba  dedit 
haut  secus  posuit,  quam  si  tu  dicas  latuit  atque  obrepsit.  Ep.  49,  6  ne  verba 
nobis  dentur  (sc.,  by  the  quibbles  of  the  sophists).  Ep.  88,  8  an  verba  saeculo 
suo  dederit  (Penelopa)  ?  Other  examples  of  this  phrase  cited  by  Lexx.  are  Ten 
And.  211  ;  Cic.  Att.  15,  16  ;  Nep.  Hann.  5,  2  ;  Ov.  Tr.  5,  7,  40. 

Here  should  also  be  included  three  comparisons  :  Ep.  71,  23 
(as  FRUGALITY  is  a  punishment  to  the  luxurious  man,  so  we  all 
consider  those  things  hard,  with  reference  to  which  we  are  weak)  ; 
87,  16  (money  passing  into  the  possession  of  some  men  is  like  a 
DENARIUS  FALLING  INTO  A  SEWER);  107,  2  (life  is  compared 
to  a  CROWD,  in  which  one  is  exposed  to  accidents).  In  Ep.  114, 
4  there  is  a  merely  formal  comparison  of  the  language  of  Maece- 
nas and  his  MANNER  OF  LIFE. 


E.    RELIGION  AND  MYTHOLOGY 

Metaphors  from  religion  and  mythology  are  not  numerous  in 
the  Epistles.  Indeed,  the  only  instances  which  seem  to  belong 
to  the  latter  department  (Herculaneus  scyphus,  Ep.  83,  23  and 
nodus  Herculaneus,  Ep.  87,  38)  are  perhaps  merely  proverbial 
phrases.  The  proportion  of  comparisons  to  metaphors  is  quite* 
large,  being  21  :  37  ;  and  6  of  these  come  from  mythological 
subjects,  of  which  the  favorite  is  the  story  of  Ulysses.  The 
examples  to  be  included  here  are : 

adorare  :  Ep.  52,  13  philosophia  adoretur. 

antistes :  Ep.  52,  15  potest  (philosophia)  in  pentralibus  suis  ostendi,  si  modo 
non  institorem,  sed  antistitem  nancta  est. 

auspicari :  Ep.  47,  10  multos  splendidissime  natos,  senatorium  per  militiarn 
auspicantes  gradum.  Auspicari,  ( take  the  auspicies,'  came  to  be  used  in  the  post- 
classical  period  with  the  meaning  'make  a  beginning,'  'enter  upon,  be  about  to 


82  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

do'  a  thing,  as  in  Ep.  83,  5  auspicabar  in  (aquam)  Virginera  dtsilire,  (cf.  Antib.7, 
I,  p.  225).  In  the  present  passage  H.  Lex.  translates  'attaining,  receiving  it 
through  military  services ; '  but  it  is  more  likely  that  F-DV.  is  right  in  interpret- 
ing it  as  'foreseeing,  anticipating.'  Pauly  renders,  "  der  die  Senatorenwiirde  als 
Lohn  seines  Kriegsdienstes  vor  Augen  hatte,"  and  Baillard,  "a  qui  leurs  emplois 
militaires  allaient  ouvrir  le  senat." 

auspicia:  Ep.  33,  4  omuia  quae  quisquam  in  illo  contubernio  (i.  e.,  the 
Epicurean  School)  locutus  est,  unius  ductu  et  auspiciis  dicta  sunt.  Cf.  Antib.7, 
i,  p.  226. 

colere  :  Ep.  67,  12  virtutis  .  .  .  speciem,  quae  nobis  non  ture  nee  sertis,  sed 
sudore  et  sanguine  colenda  est. 

consecrare  :  Ep.  95,  72  paupertatem. 

deus :  Ep.  82,  1  quern,  inquis,  deorum  sponsorem  accepisti  ?  Eum  scilicet,  qui 
neminein  fallit,  animum  recti  ac  boni  amatorem.  Ep.  93,  8  (sapiens)  dis  agat 
gratias  interque  eos  sibi. 

dicare:  Ep.  122,  4  (referring  to  men  who  spend  the  night  in  revelling)  istorum 
.  .  .  qui  se  tenebris  dicaverunt. 

feriae  :  Ep.  55,  6  cum  tempestas  piscatoribus  dedit  ferias. 

Herculaneus:  Ep.  83,  23  (Alexandrum)  inteinperantia  bibendi  et  ille  Hercu- 
laneus  ac  fatalis  scyphus  condidit.  Several  explanations  of  the  epithet  as  here 
employed  are  possible,  but  it  is  probably  to  be  traced  back  to  the  'HpdK\eioj>  S^TTOS, 
the  story  of  which  is  discussed  by  Athenaeus,  Dipnos.  XT,  469,  c-470,  d.  In 
the  present  passage  it  may  also  be  intended  to  combine  an  allusion  to  the  great 
appetite  of  Hercules  with  the  use  of  Herculaneus  by  metonymy,  in  the  sense  '  large, 
huge,'  as  in  Pliny,  N.  H.  21,  92  and  30,  29  ;  Capitol.  Pert.  (Peter,  Scriptt. 
Hist.  Aug.  vin ),  8,  4  ;  and  pseudo-Apuleius,  Herb.  67  and  72.  According  to 
Antib.7,  i,  p.  647  f.  this  form  of  the  adjective  is  confined  to  Capitolinus,  Apuleius, 
the  elder  Pliny,  and  Seneca.  Ep.  87,  38  unus  tibi  nodus,  sed  Herculaneus  restat. 
Cf.  Pliny,  N.  H.  28,  63  ;  Festus  ap.  Paul.  s.  v.  cingulo,  p.  63  Mull. ;  Macr.  Sat. 
1,  19,  16  and  Athenaeus,  xi,  500,  a  ;  and  see  Otto,  "  Sprichworter, "  p.  162,  s.  v. 
Hercules,  4). 

initiamenta  :  Ep.  90,  28  haec  eius  (sc.  sapientiae)  initiamenta  sunt.  The  word 
is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  from  this  place  and  Boeth.  Eucl.  Geom.  2,  p.  1350,  Migne 
(  =  p.  423,  1.  24,  Friedlein)  his  vero  brevibus  datis  initiamentis  de  circularibus 
theorematibus. 

penetralia:  Ep.  52,  15  (see  antistes). 

perpetitus :  Ep.  90,  28  in  secundam  numinum  formam  animae  perpetitae. 
The  word  occurs  nowhere  else,  and  most  of  the  editors  before  Schweighauser  pre- 
ferred to  read  pcrpctuae.  Other  conjectures  are  provectac,  by  Gothofredus,  and 
rsceptae,  by  Madvig.  Ilense  approves  Schweighauser' s  explanation  that  per- 
petitae  —  perpetuatac,  and  that  the  phrase  means  "  immortalitate  donatae  et  in 
secundam  numinum  formam  (i.  e.  ordinem)  translatae ; "  and  also  quotes 
Biicheler's  suggestion  that  we  have  here  a  new  word  which  had  perhaps  become 
common  in  Seneca's  time  from  the  rites  of  deification. 

pompa  :  Ep.  14,  4  ingens  alterius  mali  pompa  est.  Ferrum  circa  se  et  ignes 
habet  et  catenas  et  turbam  ferarum.  Ep.  88,  36  pretiosarum  rerum.  Ep.  103,  5 
licet  sapere  sine  pompa. 

portentum:  Ep.  110,  12  iinguas  phoenicopterorum  et  alia  portenta  luxuriae. 


Miscellaneous  83 

portentuosus  (-tosus):  Ep.  87,  23  quo  (sc.  the  implication  that  sacrilege  is  to 
be  reckoned  among  bona)  quid  fieri  portentuosius  potest?  Ep.  114,  7  orationis 
portentosissimae.  According  to  H.  Lex.,  this  word  is  classical,  but  is  not  con- 
nected with  abstracts  until  after  the  Augustan  period.  The  only  other  author 
from  whom  Lexx.  cite  examples  like  these  two  in  Seneca  is  the  elder  Pliny,  N. 
H.  5,  4  (mendacia);  9,  140  (ingenia);  14,  142  (libido);  23,  38,  with  scientia,  in 
the  sense  '  knowledge  of  wonderful  things  ; '  30,  8  (ars). 

precarius :  Ep.  65,  17  precarium  lumen  ;  cf.  Ov.  Met.  9,  76  (forma)  and 
Syrnm.  Or.  ap.  Val.  1,  6  (fulgor) .  In  contrast  with  this  phrase  we  have  libera 
luce,  two  lines  below.  Ep.  88,  27  non  est  autem  ars  sui  iuris,  cui  precarium 
fundamentum  est ;  cf.  Sen.  Dial.  9,  11,  1  quicquid  cariorem  vitam  facit  viro  seque 
ipsum  inter  precaria  numerat. 

precario  :  Ep.  86,  18  radices  .  .  .  cereas  adhuc  et  precario  haerentes.  Ep.  124, 
13  quod  in  illis  bonum  est,  precario  bonum  dicitur.  Other  instances  of  the  meta- 
phorical use  of  this  adverb  are  Cic.  De  Or.  3,  165  ut  (tralatio)  precario,  non  vi 
venisse  videatur ;  Sen.  Contr.  1,  praef.  5  (rnemoria)  quae  mihi  iam  olim  precario 
paret;  Sen.  Thyest.  215  (regnatur);  Pliny,  Ep.  7,  30,  4  (studeo);  Tac.  Agr.  16 
(praet'uit).  It  also  occurs  in  legal  Latin. 

propitiare:  Ep.  110,  1  deos  omnis,  quos  habet  placates  et  faventes,  quisquis 
sibi  se  propitiavit. 

propitius  :  Ep.  58,  6  propitiis  auribus  tuis  .  .  .  ;  si  minus,  dicam  et  iratis. 

sacra:  Ep.  26,  8  conficienda  sunt  sacra  et  huic  epistulae  viaticum  dandum  est. 

sacrarium  :  Ep.  103,  4  in  huius  (sc.  philosophiae)  sacrario  eris  .  .  .  tutus. 

sors :  Ep,  36,  4  beneficia  .  .  .  non  dubie  primae  sortis.  Cf.  Hor.  Od.  4,  11,  22 
non  tuae  sortis  iuvenem  ;  Ov.  Met.  3,  329  ut  auctoris  sortem  ( '  sex ' )  in  contraria 
mutet ;  id.  Met.  6,  679  f.  totidem  crearat  |  femineae  sortis  ;  Livy,  22,  29,  9  nobis 
quoniam  prima  animi  ingenique  negata  sors  est,  secundam  ac  mediam  teneamus  ; 
Curt,  9,  2,  7  non  modo  ignobilem  esse,  sed  etiam  ultimae  sortis ;  Suet.  Aug.  19  ne 
ultimae  quidem  sortis  hominum  conspiratione ;  Amm.  14,  6,  25  ex  turba  imae 
sortis.  Ep.  52,  3  secundae  sortis  ingenium  (cf.  prima  nota  in  next  sentence).  Ep. 
70,  19,  vilissimae  sortis  homines.  Ep.  79,  12  locum,  quern  occupavit  (animus) 
sorte  nascendi.  Ep.  117,  8  concede  ista  alia  esse,  sed  non  sortis  alterius. 

superstitio :  Ep.  95,  35  (virtutis)  quadam  superstitione  teneantur ;  hanc 
ament. 

templum  :  Ep.  90,  28  deorum  omnium  templum,  mundus. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  9,  16,  the  life  of  a  philosopher  compared  to 
that  of  JUPITER.  Ep.  59,  14,  the  wise  man  lives  on  an  equality 
with  the  GODS;  Ep.  65,  24,  the  soul  occupies  in  man  the  same 
position  that  God  does  in  the  universe;  Ep.  87,  19,  '  you  ask 
what  makes  the  wise  man  ?  The  same  thing  which  makes  God ; ' 
Ep.  90?  1,  if  philosophy  were  not  the  gift  of  the  gods,  we  should 
owe  more  to  it  than  to  them,  for  they  give  us  life,  it  gives  us 
good  life;  Ep.  92,  3,  the  soul  of  the  philosopher  ought  to  be 
such  as  would  befit  God ;  Ep.  92,  32,  the  soul  may  be  given 


84  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

the  mastery  of  all  things,  so  that  it  may  possess  all,  after  the 
manner  of  the  gods  :  Ep.  95,  36,  as  the  gods  do  not  need  to 
learn  virtue,  since  it  is  a  part  of  their  own  nature  to  be  good,  so 
some  men  have  an  innate  excellence  which  makes  it  easy  for 
them  to  attain  to  goodness  ;  Ep.  115,  4-5,  beholding  the  mind  of 
a  good  man  would  be  like  meeting  a  god.  Ep.  14,  11,  the  study 
of  philosophy  is  a  protection,  like  the  FILLETS  of  a  priest. 
Ep.  94,  27—28,  ORACLES  as  types  of  impressive  short  sayings ; 
similarly,  Ep.  108,  26.  Ep.  94,  42-44,  instruction  properly 
given  should  inspire  the  same  reverence  we  feel  on  entering  a 
TEMPLE.  In  Ep.  95,  64,  the  secrets  of  philosophy  are  compared 
to  the  religious  MYSTERIES  which  only  the  initiated  know.  Ep. 
108,  7,  some  pupils  are  swayed  by  the  voices  of  the  philosophers 
as  the  PHRYGIAN  EUNUCHS  are  by  the  music  of  the  orgies.  In 
Ep.  88,  7,  the  implied  comparison  between  life  and  the  wander- 
ings of  ULYSSES  leads  to  a  series  of  vivid  metaphors.  Ep.  31,  2, 
as  Ulysses  stopped  the  ears  of  his  companions  against  the  songs 
of  the  SIRENS,  the  wise  man  stops  his  against  the  voice  of  the 
people;  Ep.  123,  12,  the  sayings  of  the  opponents  of  the  Stoics 
are  to  be  avoided  as  the  Sirens  were  by  Ulysses,  they  are  just  as 
dangerous.  Ep.  42,  1,  a  truly  great  man  is,  perhaps,  born  only 
once  in  five  hundred  years,  like  the  PHOENIX.  In  Ep.  92,  9-10, 
man,  made  up  of  virtue  and  baser  elements,  is  compared  to  Ver- 
giFs  description  of  SCYLLA.  In  Ep.  113,  9,  the  HYDRA,  which 
had  many  heads  but  was  still  one  animal,  is  used  to  illustrate  the 
mind  and  its  different  functions ;  and,  similarly,  the  CHIMAERA. 


F.    FARMING,    HUNTING,    FISHING,    HORSEMANSHIP 

(a)  FARMING 

The  principal  thing  to  be  observed  here  is  the  large  number  of 
different  terms  which  Seneca  employs,  although  the  metaphors 
involved  in  many  of  them  are  quite  commonplace.  I  have 
included  several  expressions  connected  with  vine-culture  and 
sheep-raising  here  rather  than  in  the  appropriate  divisions  under 
"  the  Vegetable  Kingdom  "  and  "  the  Animal  Kingdom  ; "  and 


Farming  85 

have  assigned  finis  and  terminus  to  this  heading.    With  these,  the 
list  of  examples  is  : 

agere,  'drive':  Ep.  83,  22  (publica  ebrietas)  contumacissimos  et  iugum  recu- 
santes  in  alienum  egit  arbitrium,  Ep.  85,  39  quicquid  aliud  imperitos  .  .  . 
praecipites  agit.  Ep.  88,  15  agit  ilia  (sc.  caelestia)  contiriuus  ordo  fatorum.  Ep. 
89,  21  mare  agetis  introrsus.  Ep.  90,  42  mundus  in  praeceps  agebatur.  Ep.  91, 
5  in  subitas  tempestates  .  .  .  agitur  aestiva  tranquillitas.  Ep.  92,  26  non  in  imum 
agatur  .  .  .  virtus.  Ep.  94,  61-62  cum  agere  alios  visi  sunt,  agebantur.  Agebat 
infelicem  Alexandrum  furor.  Ep.  114,  4  si  illud  (sc.  ingenium)  egisset  via 
rectiore.  Cf.  circumagere. 

adrniniculum,  'vine-trellis':  Ep.  41,  5  non  potest  res  tanta  (sc.  animus 
excellens)  sine  adminiculo  numinis  stare.  Ep.  59,  6  parabolis  .  .  .  quas  existimo 
necessarias  .  .  .  ut  inbecillitatis  nostrae  adminicula  sint. 

anputare  :  Ep.  114,  17  (of  the  style  of  Sallust  and  his  imitators)  anputatae 
sententiae.  Cf.  Sen.  Med.  530  longa  colloquia  amputa. 

arare :  Ep.  87,  7,  in  the  phrase  in  omnibus  promnciis  arat,  by  metonymy  for 
'owns  farms.'  Ep.  114,  5  "alveurn  lyntribus  arent  versoque  vado  remittant 
hortos"  (quoted  from  Maecenas  ;  censured  by  Seneca). 

carpere  :  Ep.  26,  4  (of  growing  old)  non  enim  subito  inpulsi  ac  prostrati  sumus : 
carpimur.  Ep.  71,  13  (all  things,  celestial  and  terrestial)  carpentur  ac  desinent 
Ep.  108,  2  (of  the  study  of  philosophy)  nee  passim  carpenda  sunt  nee  avide 
invadenda  universa.  Ep.  120,  18  carpit  nos  ilia  (sc.  mors),  non  corripit.  Cf. 
excerpere. 

circumagere:  Ep.  122,  13  vita  in  contrarium  circumacta. 

circurncidere :  Ep.  78,  14  circumcidenda  ergo  duo  sunt,  et  .  .  .  timor  et  .  .  . 
memoria.  Ep.  89,  13  moralem  (sc.  philosophiae  partem)  .  .  .  circumcidit  (Ari- 
ston).  Cf.  excidere. 

colere  :  Ep.  74,  28  virtus  .  .  .  colit  amicitias.  Ep.  79,  17  posterorum  sermo 
.  .  .  etiam  non  sentientes  colet  ac  frequentabit.  Ep.  123,  16  quos  colit  (super- 
stitio),  violat.  Cf.  excolere. 

colonus  :  Ep.  88,  12  ante  avum  tuum  quis  istum  agrum  tenuit?  .  .  .  Non 
dominus  isto,  sed  colonus  intrasti.  Cuius  colonus  es?  Si  bene  tecum  agitur, 
heredis. 

confinis  :  Ep.  120,  8  virtutibus  vitia  confinia.  The  tropical  use  of  this  word  is, 
according  to  H.  Lex.,  " mostly  post-Aug.  ;  esp.  freq.  in  Quint."  ;  and  the  only 
examples  cited  by  Lexx.  outside  of  Seneca  and  Quintilian  are  from  Auctor  ad 
Herennium,  Ovid  (P.  2,  5,  71  studio  confinia  carmina  vestro),  and  Symmachus. 
The  word,  in  any  sense,  is  not  common  until  after  the  classical  period  (see  Antib.7, 
I,  p.  326). 

cultor  :  Ep.  53,  3  vetus  frigidae  (sc.  aquae)  cultor. 

determinare  :  Ep.  99,  5  anguste  fructus  rerum  determinat,  qui  tantum  prae- 
sentibus  laetus  est.  Cf.  terminare. 

excerpere  :  Ep.  5,  2  quid  si  nos  hominum  consuetudini  coeperimus  excerpere  ? 
Ep.  18,  4  non  excerpere  se.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  10,  18,  1  excerpe  itaque  te  volgo.  In 
this  reflexive  sense  of  'withdraw  oneself,'  the  only  example  outside  of  Seneca 
cited  by  Lexx.  is  Hor.  Sat.  1,  4,  39  f.  me  illorum  .  .  .  |  excerpam  numero,  and 


86  Jfctaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

the  only  instance  given  of  its  literal  use  is  Hor.  Sat.  2,  3,  272  ;  but  it  is  classical 
in  the  transferred  sense  'pick  out,  select,  cull.'  Antib.7,  I,  p.  537  notes  only  its 
employment  with  the  meaning  *'  make  excerpts  from  '  a  letter,  book,  etc. 

excidere:  Ep.  29,  8  (n'fio,  object).  Ep.  56,  9  interdutn  recrudescit  ambitio. 
Non  enim  excisa  desiit.  Cf.  circumcidej-f. 

excolere  :  Ep.  124,  22  quid  excolis  formam. 

ferramentum  :  Ep.  95,  18  (referring  to  surgical  instruments.  It  is  usually 
applied  to  agricultural  implements). 

fertilis:  Ep.  46,  2  eligenda  est  fertilis  (materia),  quae  capiat  ingenium,  quae 
incitet.  Ep.  95,  36  ingenia  .  .  .  ex  se  fertilia. 

finere :  Ep.  74,  26  sive  citra  senectutem  finitus  est.  Ep.  92,  32  ut  (animus) 
sua  orientis  occidentisque  terminis  finiat.  Ep.  110,  19  (quoted  from  Attains) 
famem  fames  finit. 

finis  (-es):  Ep.  74,  28  arto  fine  concluditur  (virtus)  paupertatis  exilii  orbitatis. 
Ep.  76,  10  (naturae).  Ep.  88,  3  grammaticus  circa  curam  sermonis  versatur  et, 
si  latius  evagari  vult,  circa  historias,  iam  ut  longissime  fines  suos  proferat,  circa 
carmina.  Ep.  88.  26  utraque  (i.  e.,  philosophia  et  geometria)  fines  suos  habet. 
Ep.  93,  8  quaeris  quod  sit  amplissimum  vitae  spatium  ?  Usque  ad  sapientiam 
vivere.  Qui  ad  illam  pervenit,  attigit  non  longissimum  fioem  sed  maximum. 
Ep.  93,  9  (natura)  se  ipsam  finem  sui  fecerit.  Ep.  95,  45  summi  boni. 

horreum :  Ep.  45,  2  '  I  am  ready  to  send  you  whatever  books  I  have '  ft  totum 
horreum  excutere. 

hortulus:  Ep.  4,  10  (of  a  quotation  from  Epicurus)  hoc  quoque  ex  alienis 
hortulis  sumptum  est.  In  Ep.  21,  10  the  same  metaphor  is  beautifully  developed. 

inserere  :  Ep.  14,  1  fateor  insitam  esse  nobis  corporis  nostri  caritatem.  Ep.  82, 
15  insita  voluntas.  Ep.  117,  6  omnibus  insita  de  dis  opinio  est.  Cf .  severe  and 
transererf. 

locuples :  Ep.  58,  6  Ciceronem  auctorem  huius  verbi  habeo,  puto  locupletem. 
Although  belonging  here  etymologically,  the  phrase  is  really  a  legal  one,  being 
defined  by  Dig.  50,  16,  234,  sect.  1  :  "locuples  est,  qui  satis  idonee  habet  pro 
magnitudine  rei,  quam  actor  restituendam  esse  petit."  Other  instances  of  the 
word  in  this  sense  are  Cic.  Div.  1,  19,  37  (auctor  atque  testis);  id.  ib.  2,  58,  119 
locupletissimi  auctores  ;  id.  Rep.  1,  10,  16  locupletiorem  auctorem  ;  id.  Brut.  12, 
47;  id.  Off.  3,  2,  10  (testis);  id.  Q.  F.  33  9.  6  (tabellarius);  Livy,  9,  9,  18 
Samnitibus  sponsores  nos  sumus  rei  satis  locupletes  in  id,  quod  nostrum  est ;  Dig. 
19,  1,  13,  sect.  23  (reus). 

locupletare  :  Ep.  32,  4  vota  illorum  rnultos  compliant,  ut  te  locupletent. 

messis  :  Ep.  22,  9  tarn  magnas  spes  relinquam  ?  ab  ipsa  messe  discedam  ? 

percipere:  Ep.  22, 16  (sapientiam);  cf.  Caes.  B.  C.  2,  32,  6  (praemia);  Petr.  141 
(quaededi);  Just.  43,  5  (civitatem  ab  aliquo) ;  Suet.  Tib.  15  (hereditatem  aut 
legata).  Ep.  78.  27  perceptus  longissimae  (vitae)  fructus  est.  Ep.  88,  20  mox 
percipiendis  (liberalibus  artibus)  locum  parat.  Ep.  98,  11  ut  memoria  teneamus 
amissa  nee  cum  ipsis  fructum  excidere  patiamur,  quern  ex  illis  percepimus.  Ep. 
99,  4  plerique  non  computant,  quanta  perceperint,  quantum  gavisi  sint. 

propagatio  :  Ep.  90,  39  finium.  In  this  sense  of  '  extension,  enlargement ' 
Lexx.  cite  only  Cic.  Prov.  Cons.  12,  29  (finium) ;  id.  Fam.  5,  15,  3  (temporis); 
id.  Tusc.  1,  35,  86  (vitae);  Livy,  42,  30,  9  (imperil);  cf.  Cic.  Tusc.  1,  14,  31 
(no-minis,  in  connection  with  procreatio  liberorum  and  adoptationes  fiHorum)  and  the 


Farming  *  7 

not  uncommon   nse  of  propagare  in  the  sense  'extend,  enlarge,'  on  which  see 
Antib.7,  n,  p.  401. 

purgamentum  :  Ep.  73,  16  (of  an  unworthy  mind  receiving  the  divine  seed) 
creat  purgamenta  pro  frua^bus.  H.  Lex.  here  renders  'weeds,'  bat  cites  no 
parallel.  It  ordinarily  means  'offscourings,  filth,  dirt*  in  both  literal  and 
metaphorical  senses,  as  Cart.  6,  11,  2  (servoram);  id.  10,  2,  7,  exules  .  .  . 
purgamenta  quondam  urbis;  Petr.  74  purgamentum  dedecusqae  praedicare ; 
Pliny,  X.  H.  18,  97  mill  et  panic!  et  sesamae  puigamenta  aplndam  vocant. 

rimari :  Ep.  110,  9  (animus)  terrain  rimaretor  et  quaereret,  quid  ex  ilia  mail 
effoderet  Ep.  Ill,  5  inremediabilis  factio  rimantor  epulis  (one  r>f  a  series  of 
passages  quoted  from  Maecenas  for  censure  ;  Haakh  translates,  "  Nicht  «u  heilen 
ist  dieses  Geschleeht :  eie  spuren  beim  Mahle"). 

rusticus  :  Ep.  88,  38  (rtr  bmu*  is  called  titulus  nutidor,  in  comparison  with 
komo  Wtsratus). 

serere :  Ep.  72,  2  serimus  illas  (sc.  occupationes),  itaque  ex  ana  exeunt  plures. 
Ep.  104,  12  sollicitadinum  causas.  Cf.  inscrtrc  and  troatserere. 

stimulus  :  Ep.  9,  17  (amicitiae).  Ep.  34,  2  addidi  stimulos  nee  lente  ire  passes 
sum.  Ep.  70,  25  stimulos  adegit  dolor.  Ep.  90,  41  sollicitudo  nos  .  .  .  acerrimis 
excitat  stimulis.  Ep.  100,  8  oratorios  vigor  stimulique  .  .  .  et  subiti  ictus 
sententiarum  (this  reading  for  sentiamm  of  the  Mas.,  is  evidently  right). 

strigare :  Ep.  31,  4  minusque  sibi  vinci  ac  strigare  permiserint ;  cf.  ^erg.  Cat. 
10  (8),  19,  and  Pliny,  N.  H.  18,  177  in  arando  versum  peragi  nee  strigare  in 
actu  spiritus. 

subigere :  Ep.  79,  6  multum  interest,  utrum  ad  consumptam  materiam  an  ad 
subactam  accedas. 

snbsicivus :  Ep.  53,  9  (philosophia)  non  est  res  subsiciva.  This  was  properly 
a  surveyor's  term  for  a  piece  of  land  'cut  off  and  left  remaining.*  Next  it  was 
applied  to  '  odd '  or  '  extra '  time,  beyond  that  needed  for  regular  duties,  as  in 
Cic.  Leg.  1,  3,  9  and  1,  4,  13 ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  praef.  18  ;  Quir  ;  Pliny, 

Ep.  3,  15,  1 ;    Gell.  X.  A.  praef.  23 ;  id.  18,  10,  8.      Then  it  was  transferred  to 
things  done  in  such  unoccupied  moments,  as  Lucil.  ap.  Xon.  175,  22  (opera); 
Cic.  De  Or.  2,  89,  364 :  Cypr.  De  ZeL  et  Liv.  15,  13  (suboles);  Arnob.  5.  3( 
(laudes).     Apuleius  uses  it  several  times  in  the  sense  *  occasional,  incidental.'     It 
does  not  occur  in  Caesar,  nor  in  Cicero's  orations. 

terminare:  Ep.  9,  18  omne  intra  se  bonum  (sapiens)  terminabit.  Cf.  determi- 
marc. 

terminus :  Ep.  39,  5  inania  et  ex  libidine  orta  sine  termino  sont.  Ep.  €6L  9 
decoram  et  iustum  et  legitimum  non  eiusdem  esse  formae  potas,  certis  terminis 
conprensum?  Ep.  101,  7,  of  the  end  of  life,  Ep.  102,  21  (animus)  nullos  sibi 
poni  nisi  communes  et  cum  deo  terminos  patitur. 

transerere :  Ep.  123,  8  hi  sunt,  qui  vitia  tradunt  et  alio  aliunde  transerunt. 
Although  the  best  Mss.  have  fraiunta/  and  most  edd.  adopt  the  ^vetos  lectio 
Pin ci ana  "  transferunt,  which  is  in  harmony  with  ritia  yestanl  in  the  next  sentence, 
Hense's  reading  L<  supported  by  semuM  M  onimo  rrft»gui/,  three  lines  below,  and 
is  probably  right. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  9,  7  (the  difference  between  making  a  friend 
and  having  one  illustrated  by  SOWIXG  AXD  KEAPIXG).  Ep.  33, 


88  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

4  pauperis  est  NUMERARE  PECUS  (quoted  from  Ov.  M.  13,  823, 
and  probably  proverbial,  although  not  noticed  by  Otto),  applied 
to  the  fact  that  Epicurus  furnishes  more  quotable  passages  than 
the  Stoics,  because  the  general  level  of  his  writings  is  lower.  Ep. 
34,  1  (the  feeling  of  a  teacher  compared  to  that  of  a  FARMER  who 
has  raised  a  tree  or  of  a  SHEPHERD  who  has  raised  a  lamb).  Ep. 
39,  4,  as  a  field  or  a  tree  is  injured  by  OVER-PRODUCTIVENESS 
the  mind  is  ruined  by  excessive  good  fortune  (note  the  effective 
use  of  rumpit  in  carrying  out  the  simile).  Ep.  71,  15  (fertile 
FIELDS  overflowed  by  the  sea,  as  an  illustration  of  universal 
mortality  ;  quoted  from  Cato).  Ep.  73,  1 6  (an  unworthy  charac- 
ter receiving  the  semina  divina,  compared  to  STERILE  AND 
MARSHY  GROUND).  Ep.  81,  1,  we  must  continue  to  do  good 
deeds,  even  when  they  are  unrequited,  just  as  we  must  sow  again 
even  after  a  poor  crop.  Ep.  109,  8,  the  FARMER  who  is  thor- 
oughly equipped  does  not  seek  further  equipment  from  some  one 
else ;  no  more  does  the  philosopher — he  is  thoroughly  equipped 
for  life.  Ep.  117,  12,  a  l  FIELD  is  one  thing,  having  a  field  is 
another  thing ;  so  wisdom  is  one  thing,  being  wise  is  another 
thing'  (quoted  from  the  dialecticians,  and  refuted  by  Seneca  in 
the  following  sections).  Ep.  117,  26  (future  wisdom  compared 
to  a  future  HARVEST). 

(b)    HUNTING 

Seneca  derives  very  few  tropes  from  the  hunter,  even  if  we 
include  here  fowling  and  archery.  The  following  examples  are 
all  I  have  noted  : 

aberrare  :  Ep.  81,  2  nemo  habet  tarn  certam  in  beneficiis  manura,  ut  non  saepe 
fallatur  ;  aberrant,  ut  aliquando  haereant.  This  seems  to  be  a  metaphor  from 
archery  ;  cf.  Cic.  De  Or.  2,  54,  219  cum  ante  illud  facete  dictum  emissum  haerere 
debeat. 

adsectator  :  Ep.  122,  12  cenarum  bonarum. 

agitare  :  Ep.  101,  4  et  mari  et  terra  pecuniam  agitabat.  It  seems  to  be  used 
here  as  in  Cic.  OS.  3,  17,  68  (feras)  and  Verg.  G.  3,  409  cursu  timidos  agitabis 
onagros,  rather  than  in  the  not  uncommon  metaphorical  sense  of  '  be  engaged  in, 
employed  about,  occupied  with.' 

aucupari :  Ep.  99,  26  voluptatem. 

captare :  Ep.  52,  9  philosophia  captante  clamores.    Ep.  99,  18  (famam) .     Ep. 


Fishing,  Horsemanship  89 

99,  25  (voluptatem) ;  similarly  in  sectt.  26  and  27.  Ep.  100,  5  electa  verba  sunt, 
non  captata.  Ep.  103,  1  (mala)  quae  nos  observant,  quae  captant.  Ep.  104,  7 
otium.  Ep.  108,  35  (verba;  translationes  ;  figuras  dicendi).  Ep.  114,  9  com- 
mendatio  .  .  .  captatur. 

haerere:  Ep.  81,  2  (see  aberrare). 

inescare  :  Ep.  74.  14  quicquid  ex  his  hominem  inescantibus ;  cf.  Ter.  Ad.  220 
(homines);  Livy,  22,  41,  5  (temeritatem)  and  41,  23,  8  (specie  beneficii);  Veil. 
2,  13  veluti  inescandae  inliciendaeque  multitudinis  causa  ;  and  the  well-known 
fishing  metaphor  escam  malorum  .  .  .  voluptatem  in  Cic.  Sen.  13,  44. 

investigare  :  Ep.  90,  34  quid  sapiens  investigaverit.  The  common  metaphor  is 
vitalized  by  in  lucem  protraxerit  and  secutus  est. 

manus  :  Ep.  81,  2  (see  aberrare}. 

viscatus  :  Ep.  8,  3  viscata  beneficia  ;  cf.  Pliny,  Ep.  9,  30,  2  (munera). 

Comparisons:  Ep.  8,  3,  be  suspicious  of  bonum  fortuitum;  the 
wild  beast  and  the  fish  are  deceived  by  pleasing  BAIT.  Ep.  29, 
3  (wisdom,  compared  to  ARCHERY).  Ep.  71,  3,  plans,  like  an 
ARROW,  need  an  aim. 

(c)    FISHING 

There  is  a  marked  absence  of  fishing  metaphors,  unless  the 
instances  of  inescare  belong  here  rather  than  under  "  Hunting ; " 
and  the  only  comparisons  are  Ep.  8,  3,  cited  in  the  preceding 
section,  and  Ep.  121,  22,  where  a  spider's  web  is  likened  to  a 
fish-net. 

(d)    HORSEMANSHIP 

This  may  be  an  appropriate  place  to  add  the  following  figures 
from  horsemanship,  most  of  which  are  connected  with  the  ordinary 
tropical  use  offrenum  and  its  kindred  verbs  ;  but  Seneca's  applica- 
tion of  the  word  ealcar  is  somewhat  bold,  and  that  of  gradarius 
seems  to  have  no  parallel : 

ealcar  :  Ep.  94,  23  puta  .  .  .  temeritati  frenos  iniectos,  ignaviae  subditum  ealcar. 
Cf.  the  saying  of  Isocrates  quoted  by  Cicero,  De  Or.  3,  9,  36,  and  Quintilian, 
Inst.  Or.  2,  8,  11. 

effrenatus :  Ep.  85,  4,  the  philosopher  is  not  merely  effrenatissimis  moderatior. 
Ep.  88,  19  adfectibus  effrenatissimis.  Ep.  92,  8  (partem  animi);  cf.  Sen.  Phaed. 
255  mentis  effrenae  impetus,  and  note  that  in  the  tragedies  Seneca  always  uses 
the  shorter  form,  efrenus. 

frenare :  Ep.  94,  44  reverentia  frenat  animos  ;  cf.  Sen.  Here.  Oct.  277,  Ag. 
203,  Med.  3  and  866. 


90  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

frenum  :  Ep.  23,  4  voluptates  tenere  sub  freno.     Ep.  94,  23  (see  calcar). 

gradarius  (sc.  equus),  'pacer,  ambler:'  Ep.  40,  11  Cicero  quoque  noster,  a 
quo  B-omana  eloquentia  exiluit,  gradarius  fuit.  The  word  is  very  rare,  and  cited 
by  Lexx.  in  a  tropical  sense  only  here. 

refrenare:  Ep.  89,  15  (impetus,  object).  Ep.  104,  13  (cupiditates,  object).  Ep. 
106,  9  non  moderatio  refrenat  ac  revocat?  Ep.  120,  11  oportebat  cupiditates 
refrenari.  Ep.  123,  14  hie  inpellamus  corpora,  illic  refrenemus. 

Comparisons  :  Ep.  30,  13,  'his  mental  energy  increased  as  does 
the  joy  of  the  drivers  when,  in  the  seventh  lap,  they  are  approach- 
ing the  palm.7  Ep.  41,  6,  '  do  not  judge  a  man  by  externals  ;  a 
golden  bridle  does  not  make  a  better  horse.'  Ep.  47,  16  (judging 
men  compared  to  buying  horses);  similarly,  Ep.  80,  9-10  and  95, 
67.  Ep.  68,  13,  'old  men  should  follow  the  example  of  those  who 
have  come  out  too  late  and  wish  to  make  up  time  by  swiftness  ; 
they  should  ply  the  spur.7  Ep.  76,  9  (swiftness  in  a  man,  to  that 
of  a  horse). 

G.    AKTS   AND   TRADES 

The  various  arts  and  trades  are  quite  generally  represented  in 
Seneca's  metaphorical  vocabulary.  The  largest  number  of  single 
expressions  comes  from  different  phases  of  building,  but  about  a 
third  of  these  are  instances  of  the  familiar  use  of  struere  and 
instruere.  Next  in  number  come  metaphors  from  weaving,  but  of 
the  23  instances  nearly  half  are  those  with  contexere  and  nectere  ; 
and  there  are  no  similes  from  this  department.  It  is  to  be 
observed  that  there  are  no  metaphors  or  similes  taken  from  the 
occupations  of  the  blacksmith  or  the  potter.  Some  very  beautiful 
comparisons  are  derived  from  sculpture  and  from  music.  Espe- 
cially notable  is  the  large  number  of  comparisons  drawn  from  the 
sphere  of  medicine  and  healing.  There  are  22  of  these,  which, 
when  added  to  the  20  metaphorical  expressions  from  the  same 
department  and  the  large  collection  of  kindred  figures  already 
cited  under  "  Health  and  Sickness/7  show  that  this  is  one  of 
Seneca's  favorite  fields  for  illustrative  material.  Of  course,  nearly 
all  of  the  instances  grow  out  of  the  familiar  transfer  of  ( health ' 
and  '  disease 7  to  the  moral  and  intellectual  sphere.  The  classified 
examples  are  as  follows  : 


In  General  91 


(a)    IN   GENERAL 

ars  :  Ep,  71,  H  aeternam  artem  cuncta  temperantis  dei.  Ep.  90,  44  ars  est 
bonum  fieri.  Ep.  92,  10  primaars  horainis  est  ipsa  virtus.  Ep.  95,  7  (sapientia) 
ars  vitae  est  ;  so  117,  12. 

artifex  :  Ep.  31,  6  ille  (sc.  sapiens)  prudens  atque  artifex.  Ep.  85,  41  sapiens 
artifex  est  domandi  mala.  Ep.  99,  27  (sapientiam)  artificem  vides  vitae.  Ep. 
95,  7  (sapientes)  artifices  vivendi.  Ep.  113,  16  divini  artificis  ingenium.  Cf. 
examples  on  p.  92  and  p.  95.  There  are  several  instances  in  Seneca's 
Tragedies,  but  always  in  a  bad  sense,  viz.:  Phaed.  1220  (leti);  ib.  559,  Tro.  750, 
and  Med.  734  (scelerum);  Ag.  983  (sceleris). 

artificium :  Ep.  53,  3  memor  artificii  mei  vetus  frigidae  cultor  mitto  me  in 
mare.  In  this  sense  of  'theory,  system,'  artificium  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  from 
Cic.  De  Or.  1,  32,  146 ;  id.  ib.  2,  19,  83  ;  Auct.  ad  Her.  3,  2,  3  ;  id.  3,  16,  28. 
The  word  and  its  derivatives  are  not  common  in  any  sense  outside  of  Cicero  and  the 
Auctor  ad  Herennium.  Ep.  Ill,  3  verus  et  rebus,  non  artificiis  philosophus  ; 
which  is  followed  by  the  comparison  of  those  who  walk  on  tiptoe  in  order  to  seem 
taller. 

fabricare  :  Ep.  16,  3  (philosophia)  animum  format  et  fabricat.  See  Antib.7,  I, 
p.  567. 

instrumentum  :  Ep.  9, 15  summum  bonum  extrinsecus  instrumenta  non  quaerit. 
Ep.  17,  8,  is  wisdom  to  be  ultimum  vitae  instrumentum  ?  (Pauly  translates  "Hiilfs- 
mittel,"  and  Baillard,  "  materiel ;"  cf.  Cic.  Leg.  1,  22,  59  quantaque  instrumen- 
ta habeat  ad  obtinendam  sapientiam).  Ep.  24,  6  duo  haec  .  .  .  instrumenta 
(i.  e.,  Platonis  librum  et  gladium)  prospexerat  (Cato),  alterum  ut  vellet  mori, 
alterum,  ut  posset.  Ep.  42,  3  (explicandae  nequitiae).  Ep.  44,  7  (beatae  vitae); 
so  74,  1.  Ep.  45,  12  (vitae);  so  88,  20  and  95,  8.  Ep.  61,  4  satis  instructa  vita 
est,  sed  nos  in  instrumenta  eius  avidi  sumus.  Ep.  74,  19  nullus  .  .  .  contra 
fortunam  inexpugnabilis  rnurus  est :  intus  instruarnur  .  .  .  Quod  sit  hoc  instru- 
mentum, scire  desideras?  Ep.  92,  14  naturalia  instrumenta.  Ep.  121,  24 
(according  to  the  probable  reading)  hoc  instrumentum  in  ilia  (sc.  animalia) 
natura  contulit  ad  permanendum,  conciliationem  ei  caritatem  sui. 

maim  facere  :  Ep.  52,  6  quaedam  (ingenia)  manu,  quod  aiunt,  facienda  sunt. 
Ep.  58,  32  finem  (senectutis)  .  .  .  manu  facere.  Ep.  115,  2  oratio  .  .  .  fucata  et 
manu  facta.  For  other  examples  in  Seneca,  see  Otto,  "  Sprichworter. "  p.  213. 

materia  :  Ep.  47,  16,  there  is  no  need  to  seek  a  friend  in  the  forum  or  senate- 
house,  careful  observation  may  discover  one  in  your  home,  saepe  bona  matena 
cessat  sine  artifice.  Ep.  52,  4  (applied  to  character).  Ep.  66,  33,  two  actions  may 
be  equally  good,  ceterum  magna  habeunt,  discrimina  variante  materia.  Ep.  66,  39 
boni.  Ep.  71,  21  bona  ista  aut  mala  non  efficit  materia,  sed  virtus.  Ep.  74,  6 
perturbationis.  Ep.  78,  21  gloriae.  Ep.  85,  39  (virtutis);  so  90,  46.  Ep.  87, 
11  non  futurum  finem  in  ista  materia  ullum.  Ep.  98,  2  bonorum  ac  malorum. 
Ep.  118,  5  scribere  et  hanc  integram  egerere  raateriam.  See  Antib.7,  n,  p.  61. 

opifex  :  Ep.  90,  27  non  est  (sapientia)  .  .  .  instrumentorum  ad  usus  necessaries 
opifex. 

Comparisons  :  Ep.   53,   11,  the  gods   themselves   surpass  the 


92  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

philosopher  only  in  their  longer  existence,  at  mehercules  magni 
artificis  est  clusisse  totum  in  exiguo.  Ep.  65,  13—14  (the  relation 
of  forma  and  proposition  to  causa  illustrated  by  the  work  of  the 
artist).  Ep.  65,  17,  as  the  artist  rests  his  tired  eyes  by  coming 
out  into  the  daylight,  so  the  mind  finds  rest  in  the  contemplation 
of  nature.  Ep.  88,  25,  the  relation  of  geometry  to  philosophy  is 
like  that  of  the  artisan  to  geometry  itself.  Ep.  95,  8  (philosophy 
contrasted  with  omnes  istae  artes).  Ep.  95,  56  (virtue  contrasted 
with  the  artisan's  trade).  Ep.  97,  10,  in  all  other  arts,  men  are 
ashamed  of  mistakes,  but  find  pleasure  in  mistakes  in  living. 
Ep.  104,  19  nulla  ars  loco  discitur :  quid  ergo?  Sapientia,  ars 
omnium  maxima,  in  itinere  colligiturf  Ep.  108,  36,  nobody  de- 
serves less  credit  than  those  who  learn  philosophy  as  they  would 
some  mercenary  trade.  Ep.  121,  5,  an  animal  controls  his  own 
movements  as  easily  as  an  artisan  the  tools  of  his  trade.  Ep. 
124,  6  (quoted),  the  happy  life,  like  every  science  and  art,  ought 
to  start  from  something  palpable  and  subject  to  the  senses. 

(b)    BUILDING  (ARCHITECT,   CARPENTER,  MASON) 
(Cf.  also  under  "The  House,"  p.  55  ff.) 

artifex  :  Ep.  58,  28  (applied  to  God  as  the  builder  of  the  universe);  similarly, 
65,  19.  In  these  examples  the  idea  of  *  building'  seems  clearer  than  in  those 
cited  on  p.  91. 

coinponere :  Ep.  30,  11  quicquid  composuit  (natura),  resolvit,  et  quicquid 
resolvit,  componit  iterum,  Ep.  98,  5  sic  composite  (homini)  nihil  accidet.  Sic 
autem  conponetur,  etc.  ;  cf.  Sen.  Dial.  8,  8,  3  compositum  ordinatumque  ,  .  . 
virum.  Ep.  99,  17  sequitur  nos  .  .  .  hoc  vitium,  ad  plurium  exempla  com- 
poni. 

compositio :  Ep.  115,  18  dum  animo  compositio  sua  constet.  Haakh  renders, 
"  ihre  Fassung."  No  parallel  to  this  use  of  the  word  is  given  by  Lexx.  or 
Antib.7,  and  the  context  suggests  that  there  is  a  play  on  its  meaning  as  a 
rhetorical  term. 

conpago :  Ep.  91,  12  (of  a  volcano)  sive  flammarum  violentia  conpaginem  soli 
ruperit.  Conpago  for  compages  is  rare. 

convexuin :  Ep.  102,  21  patria  est  illi  (sc.  animo)  quodcumque  suprema  et 
universa  circuitu  suo  cingit,  hoc  omne  convexum.  This  noun,  meaning  '  vault, 
arch,'  and  more  often  occurring  in  the  plural,  is  cited  by  Lexx.,  as  applied  to  the 
heavens,  only  from  Vergil  (A.  4,  451  and  6,  241)  and  Claudian  (Cons.  Prob.  et 
Olyb.  242  ;  in  Eufin.  1,  367  and  2,  454  ;  et  al. ).  Add  Sen.  Phaed.  220  and  Thy. 
993. 


Building  (Architect,  Carpenter,  Mason)  93 

discindere :  Ep.  89,  17  oratio  .  .  .  inter  respondentem  et  interrogantem  discissa. 
Cf.  scindere. 

firrnamentum  :  Ep.  102,  25  ossa  nervique,  firmamenta  fluidorum  ac  labentium  ; 
cf.  Sen.  Dial.  4,  1,  2  and  Gell.  13,  23,  9.  Cicero  was  especially  fond  of  using 
this  word  in  a  tropical  sense.  It  was  also  employed  as  a  rhetorical  term,  e.  g. , 
Cic.  Inv.  1,  14,  19  ;  Auct.  ad  Her.  1,  16,  26  ;  Quint.  3,  11,  1. 

formatio:  Ep.  117,  19  morum.  Properly  this  is  a  builder's  term,  as  Vitr.  2, 
praef.  et  al.  In  a  tropical  sense  it  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here  and  Philastr, 
De  Haeres.  21. 

instruere  :  Ep.  22,  12  quam  magna  pecunia  instruas  otium.  Ep.  61,  4  satis 
instructa  vita  est ;  cf.  83,  13  and  88,  21.  I  find  no  other  author  who  uses  this 
verb  in  connection  with  vita,  except  Cicero  in  Tusc.  5,  2,  6  a  quibus  vita  hominum 
instructa  primis  sit.  Ep.  70,  27  quos  adversus  hos  casus  instruxit  longa  meditatio. 
Ep.  76,  24  rerum  vitam  instruentium  (Pauly  renders,  "Dingen  ...  in  welchen 
das  Leben  sich  bequem  einrichtet ").  Ep.  98,  4  nisi  te  contra  levitatem  casus 
.  .  .  instruxeris.  Cf.  struere. 

lineamenta :  Ep.  33,  5  per  lineamenta  sua  ingenii  opus  nectitur,  ex  quo  nihil 
subduci  sine  ruina  potest.  The  context  is  that  the  Stoic  writings  can  be  excerpted 
less  readily  than  the  Epicurean.  Cf.  Cic.  Brut.  87,  298  (of  the  literary  style  of 
Cato)  intelleges  nihil  illius  liniamentis  nisi  eornm  pigmentorum,  quae  inventa 
nondum  erant,  florem  et  colorem  defuisse  ;  where,  however,  the  metaphor  is  from 
painting  instead  of  building. 

politura :  Ep.  100,  5  (occurring  in  an  extended  metaphor  where  the  style  of 
Fabianus  is  described  as  a  house ;  see  under  domus,  p.  55). 

recidere :  Ep.  88,  38  multa  securibus  recidenda  (the  context  is  of  studies  and 
investigations).  Ep.  100,  5  (in  the  same  context  as  that  just  noted  under 
politura). 

regular  Ep.  11,  10,  we  need  some  one  as  a  standard  of  character;  nisi  ad 
regulam  prava  non  corriges.  Ep.  12,  5  illam  (sc.  aetatem)  quoque  in  extrema 
regula  stantem.  The  reading  here  is  uncertain  ;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  Ep.  20,  3 
unam  seniel  ad  qnam  vivas  regulam  prende  et  ad  hanc  omnem  vitam  exaequa 
(note  how  the  common  metaphor  is  strengthened  by  exaequa).  Ep.  66,  11  una 
inducitur  humanis  virtutibus  regula.  Ep.  89,  11  locum,  quern  de  iudicio  et 
regula  appellant  (Epicurei). 

rescindere  :  Ep.  92,  23  quidni  non  possit  beata  vita  rescind!  ? 

ruina:  Ep.  33,  5  (see  lineamenta). 

saxum  :  Ep.  12,  1  tarn  putria  sunt  aetatis  meae  saxa. 

scindere  :  Ep.  89,  16  naturalis  pars  philosophiae  in  duo  scinditur. 

secare  :  Ep.  89,  3  quidquid  usque  in  pulverem  sectum  est. 

struere  :  Ep.  48,  5  interrogationes  vaferrimas.  Ep.  91,  6  quidquid  longa  series 
multis  laboribus  .  .  .  struxit.  Ep.  100,  5  (of  literary  style,  see  under  domus, 
p.  55).  Ep.  110,  3  res  gradum  sibi  struxit  in  praeceps.  Ep.  114,  7  verba  tarn 
improbe  structa.  Cf.  instruere. 

subula  :  Ep.  82,  23-24  magnis  telis  magna  portenta  feriuntur  .  .  .  et  adversus 
mortem  tu  tarn  minuta  (i.  e.,  the  quibbles  of  the  schools)  iacularis  ?  Subula 
leonem  excipis?  Acuta  sunt  ista,  quae  dicis.  The  phrase  subula  leonem  excipis  is 
given  by  Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  190,  as  proverbial,  but  no  other  instance  is 
cited.  Ep.  85,  1  subula  armatum. 


94  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Comparisons  :  Ep.  50,  6,  bent  BEAMS  may  be  straightened  by 
means  of  heat,  how  much  more  easily  can  the  mind  be  shaped. 
Ep.  71,  19-20  (virtue  compared  to  a  RULER  ;  the  simile  leads 
to  a  somewhat  detailed  metaphor);  Ep.  76,  13  (a  good  man,  to  a 
ruler).  Ep.  95,  53  (society,  to  an  ARCH);  Ep.  118,  16  (an  arch 
with  its  keystone  used  as  one  of  a  series  of  illustrations  to  prove 
that  character  as  well  as  size  may  change  with  growth).  Ep.  115, 
9,  where  honors  and  superficial  prosperity  are  likened  to  MARBLE 
FACING  and  GILDED  VENEERING  upon  walls  and  ceilings,  might 
be  included  here  as  well  as  under  "  Parts  of  the  House,"  on 
p.  57. 

(c)    METAL- WORKING  AND  ENGRAVING 

bratteatus:  Ep.  115,  9  felicitas.  The  context  is  the  same  as  that  of 
the  last  example  mentioned  under  the  preceding  caption.  The  only  in- 
stances of  the  word  given  by  Lexx.  are,  in  a  literal  sense  (for  the  classical 
aureus),  Sid.  Ep.  2,  10,  4  and  8,  8,  3;  in  the  sense  'gleaming,  glistening/ 
Sen.  Ep.  41,  6  (leo)  and  Mart.  Cap.  1,  sect.  75  (comae);  in  the  tropical 
sense  'splendid,  golden,'  Aus.  Grat.  ad  Gratian.  8  (xx.  sect.  18  Peiper) 
'  o  mentis  aureae  dictum  bracteatum,'  and,  in  the  tropical  sense  '  delusive,' 
only  in  this  example  from  Seneca.  In  general,  the  word  brattea  (.brcwtea) 
and  its  derivatives  are  almost  confined  to  post-classical  and  late  authors, 
the  only  classical  instances  cited  by  Lexx.  being  Lucr.  4,  729  and  Verg.  A. 
G,  209.  The  other  authors  from  whom  examples  are  given  are  Ovid,  the 
elder  Pliny,  Martial,  Juvenal,  Solinus  (praef.  2,  tropical),  Arnobius, 
Firmicus  Maternus,  Prudentius,  Fulgentius,  and  Isidorus. 

officina:  Ep.  14,  17  Epicuri  est  aut  Metrodori  aut  alicuius  ex  ilia  officina. 
Ep.  90,  19  hinc  fabrorum  officinae  sunt,  .  .  .  hinc  molles  corporis  motus 
docentium.  Ep.  92,  25  voluptatis. 

signare:  Ep.  113,  16  tot  fecit  (divinus  artifex)  genera  folio  rum:  nullum 
non  sua  proprietate  signatum.  Ep.  115,  1  ilia,  quae  senseris,  magis  adpli- 
ces  tibi  et  velut  signes.  Here  may  also  belong  the  metaphor  in  Ep.  34, 
4  una  forma  percussa,  cited  under  percutere,  p.  179. 

signum:  Ep.  95,  65  quidam  characterismon  appellant,  signa  cuiusque 
virtutis  ac  vitii  et  notas  reddentem.  The  source  of  the  figure  is  different 
in  Ep.  13,  16  sed  iam  finem  epistulae  faciam,  si  illi  signum  suum  in- 
pressero,  id  est  aliquam  magnificam  vocem  perferendam  ad  te  mandavero. 

The  only  comparison  is  Ep.  58,  25  c  as  the  engraver  rests  his 
eyes  when  strained  and  wearied,  so  we  ought  sometimes  to  let 
the  mind  unbend  and  obtain  recreation/ 


Sculpture;  Drawing  and  Painting  95 


(d)    SCULPTURE 

artifex:  Ep.  9,  5  (part  of  a  comparison  with  Phidias)  faciendarum 
amicitiarum  artifex. 

basis:  Ep.  76,  31  'no  one  of  those  who  are  exalted  by  wealth  and  offices 
is  really  great.  Why  does  he  seem  great?'  Cum  basi  ilium  sua  metiris. 

effigies:  Ep.  81,  13  simulacra  rerum  honestarum  et  effigies.  Ep.  103, 
2  hominum  effigies  habent,  animos  ferarum. 

fingere:  Ep.  31,  11  exurge  modo  "  et  te  quoque  dignum  finge  deo " 
(quoted  from  Verg.  A.  8,  364  f. ).  Finges  autem  non  auro  vel  argento: 
non  potest  ex  hac  materia  imago  dei  exprimi  similis.  Ep.  92,  29  non  est 
adhuc  bonus,  sed  in  bonum  fingitur.  Ep.  114,  3  ab  illo  (sc.  animo) 
fingitur  ( ingenium ) . 

incidere:  Ep.  21,  4  quis  Idomenea  nosset,  nisi  Epicurus  ilium  litteris 
suis  incidisset?  This  might  be  considered  as  belonging  in  the  preceding 
division,  as  it  can  mean  either  '  carve  on1  stone  '  or  '  engrave  on  metal.' 
The  only  parallels  given  by  Lexx.  are  Pliny,  Paneg.  54,  7  non  trabibus 
aut  saxis  nornen  tuum,  sed  monumentis  aeternae  laudis  inciditur,  and  Sen. 
Ben.  4,  28,  2,  where  it  means  rather  '  enroll,  enter  on  the  list.'  For  a 
different  tropical  use  in  Cicero  and  Livy,  see  Antib.7,  I,  p.  709. 

simulacrum:   Ep.   81,   13    (see  effigies). 

Comparisons:  Ep.  9,  5,  as  PHIDIAS,  if  he  has  spoiled  a 
statue,  will  straightway  make  another,  so  the  artist  in  friend- 
ships will  substitute  another  in  the  place  of  the  one  that  is 
lost;  Ep.  85,  40,  as  Phidias  could  make  statues  out  of  various 
materials,  so  the  wise  man  can  produce  virtue  in  either  wealth 
or  poverty.  In  Ep.  65,  3-8  and  13  and  17,  a  STATUE  is  used 
to  illustrate  the  meaning  and  relations  of  materia  and  various 
causae.  Ep.  84,  8,  choose  some  man  as  your  model,  but  re- 
semble him  as  a  son,  not  as  a  statue.  In  Ep.  76,  31  there  is 
an  implied  comparison  between  a  colossus  standing  in  a  well 
and  a  man  who  is  great  in  spite  of  a  lowly  station. 


(e)    DRAWING  AND  PAINTING 

imaginarius:  Ep.  20,  13  (paupertas).  The  word  is  rare  in  a  literal 
sense,  and  in  the  sense  '  existing  only  in  the  imagination,  simulated '  is 
not  ante-Augustan.  See  Antib.7,  i,  p.  682,  to  which  add  Apul.  Apol.  sect. 
76  Helm  (titulus)  ;  Gai.  Inst.  1,  113  (venditio)  ;  id.  ib.  3,  169  and  173 
(seditio);  Ulp.  in  Dig.  18,  1,  55  (venditio);  Capit.  Pert.  (Scriptt.  Hist. 
Aug.  vm  Peter)  15,  1  (funus)  ;  and  (the  adverb)  Sid.  Ep.  2,  10,  4. 

imago:   Ep.   104,  31  temporis.     Ep.  120,  8  virtutis. 


96  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Comparisons:  Ep.  9,  7  (an  expansion  of  Attains'  comparison 
of  friendship  to  a  PAINTING)  ;  58,  19-20  (the  meaning  of 
idea  and  idos  illustrated  by  a  painting)  ;  71,  2,  no  one,  although 
he  has  all  his  colors  ready,  will  make  a  likeness,  unless  he  has 
decided  what  he  wishes  to  paint;  we  make  mistakes  because 
we  consider  about  the  parts  of  life,  not  life  as  a  whole.  Ep. 
113,  26,  it  is  ridiculous  to  conceive  of  grammatical  terms  as 
animals  and  to  ascribe  forms  to  them  as  a  PAINTER  might ;  121, 
5,  as  a  painter  understands  the  use  of  his  colors,  so  an  animal 
understands  the  use  of  its  own  powers.  Ep.  49,  1,  a  letter 
from  a  friend  is  better  than  a  PORTRAIT  of  him ;  45,  3  '  asking 
for  copies  of  my  books  is  no  more  a  proof  that  you  judge  me 
eloquent  than  asking  for  my  portrait  would  prove  you  consider 
me  handsome.' 

(f)   Music  AND  LITERATURE 

canere:   Ep.  79,   15  amicitiam  .  .  .  cecinisset. 

cantilena:  Ep.  24,  18  non  sum  tarn  ineptus,  ut  Epicuream  cantilenam 
.  .  .  persequar.  See  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  73. 

complicare:  Ep.  8,  7  adhuc  Epicurum  complicamus.  The  phrase  is 
followed  by  a  quotation  from  Epicurus.  The  text  and  interpretation  are 
doubtful ;  cf .  Schweighauser's  "  Notae,"  ad  loc.  The  only  examples  of 
complicare  in  a  tropical  sense  given  by  Lexx.  are  Cic.  Off.  3,  19,  76  com- 
plicatam  notionem  evolvere;  Aug.  De  Catechiz.  Rudib.  13,  18  ea,  quae 
illi  nota  sunt,  non  explicemus  latius,  sed  breviter  complicemus;  and  Vere- 
cund.  In  Cantic.  Deuter.  14  acerbitas  tormentorum  fortiores  animos 
nullatenus  complicavit  (=coegit,  flexit).  If  adhuc  .  .  .  complicamus  is 
correct,  the  most  natural  meaning  for  the  expression  here  seems  to  be 
'  I  enclose  herewith,'  or  '  in  addition  to  this.' 

consonare :  Ep.  88,  9    ( see  below,  under  "  Comparisons  " ) . 

conspirare:  Ep.  84,  10  multae  .  .  .  artes,  multa  praecepta  sint,  mul- 
tarum  aetatum  exempla,  sed  in  unum  conspirata.  The  metaphor  is  especi- 
ally appropriate  after  the  comparison  with  a  chorus  and  orchestra,  cited 
below.  Cicero  was  quite  fond  of  employing  the  active  of  this  verb  in  a 
tropical  sense;  cf.  also  Lucr.  4,  1216  (&TT.  Xe7.)  conspirans  mutuus  ardor, 
and  Quint.  1,  10,  16  (&TT.  \ey.)  operibus,  in  quibus  plurium  conatus  prae- 
eunte  aliqua  iucunda  voce  conspirat.  The  use  of  conspirare  in  the  sense 
'  plot  together '  is  frequent  in  the  historians  after  the  Augustan  period. 

dialecticus:   Ep.  121,  10  omnia  animalia  dialectica  nasci  oportet. 

discrepare:  Ep.  88,  9  (see  below,  under  "Comparisons").  New  life  is 
added  to  the  trite  metaphor  by  the  context. 

explicare:  Ep.  72,  1  explicandus  est  animus  (occurring  in  a  comparison 
of  the  mind  to  books). 


Music  and  Literature  97 

inscribere :  Ep.  68,  3  non  est  quod  inscribas  tibi  philosophiam  aut  quietem. 
Ep.  98,  10  dominus  inscriberis. 

modulatio:  Ep.  114,  15  (of  literary  style)  quorundam  non  est  compositio, 
modulatio  est. 

obliterare:  Ep.  105,  8  (scelus)  non  satis  illi  obliteratum  videtur:  cf. 
Sen.  Med.  556  f.  haec  irae  data  |  oblitterentur.  According  to  H.  Lex. 
the  literal  use  of  this  word  is  "  post- Aug.  and  very  rare,"  the  only  examples 
given  by  Lexx.  being  Tac.  A.  13,  23  fin.  (nomina)  and  Mamert.  Grat.  Act. 
Julian.  (=Paneg.  Lat.  XI  Baehr.)  5  ad  obliterandum  pulchritudinem  vul- 
neribus  (which  should  rather  be  classed  as  metaphorical).  H.  Lex.  states 
that  its  tropical  use  is  "  esp.  freq.  in  post- Aug.  prose;  principally  in  Tac." 
There  are  only  two  examples  in  Cicero's  Orations  (Red.  in  Sen.  8,  21  and 
Vatin.  6,  15);  none  in  his  Philosophical  writings  (Merguet)  and  none  in 
Caesar  (Meusel).  Other  examples  given  by  Lexx.  are  Accius  ap.  Non. 
146,  30  (cf.  Non.  146,  28  oblitterare  est  obscurefacere  et  in  oblivionem 
ducere)  ;  Laevius  ap.  Gell.  19,  7,  4  (gentem)  ;  Catull.  64,  232  mandata 
nee  ulla  oblitteret  aetas;  Livy,  3,  59,  3;  3,  71,  6;  21,  29,  7;  26,  41,  8; 
39,  20;  41,  24;  Suet.  Tib.  22;  Tac.  A.  3,  34;  id.  A.  11,  15;  Auson.  Ep.  19, 
14  (=p.  267,  1.  24  Peiper)  quos  fama  oblitterat. 

transscribere :  Ep.  4,  2  cum  puerilem  animum  deposueris,  et  te  in  viros 
philosophia  transscripserit. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  33,  6,  maxims  are  more  easily  remembered 
when  circumscripta  et  CARMINIS  modo  inclusa.  Ep.  113,  24, 
as  one  man  may  be  at  the  same  time  both  POET  and  ORATOR, 
so  the  same  mind  may  possess  various  virtues.  Ep.  104,  19, 
wisdom  is  not  learned  by  travelling,  any  more  than  ORATORY  is. 
Ep.  72,  1  (the  mind  compared  to  BOOK-ROLLS,  which  become 
stuck  together  when  left  unused).  Ep.  33,  9  (a  man  who  only 
quotes  previous  writers  compared  to  a  BOOK)  ;  93,  11,  life,  like 
a  book,  may  be  useful  though  short;  or  valueless,  though  long. 
For  the  probable  identification  of  the  annales  Tanusii,  men- 
tioned in  this  passage,  with  the  annales  Volusi,  cacata  charta  of 
Catull.  36,  1,  see  Teuffel-Warr,  Hist.  Eom.  Lit.,  sect.  212,  7 
and  references  there  given ;  but  cf .  BERNH.  SCHMIDT,  "  Proleg. 
Catull.,"  p.  xlvf.  Ep.  95,  2  (a  READER'S  audience,  polite  but 
bored,  as  an  illustration  of  insincerity).  Ep.  33,  9  (a  man  who 
only  quotes  previous  writers  compared  to  a  STENOGRAPHER). 
In  Ep.  84,  9-10,  where  the  various  activities  of  the  mind  are 
compared  to  the  blended  tones  of  a  CHORUS  AND  ORCHESTRA, 
there  is  a  fine  bit  of  descriptive  writing.  Ep.  123,  9  (the  con- 


98  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

versation  of  flatterers  compared  to  the  music  of  a  SYMPHONIA). 
Ep.  87,  12-14  (a  discussion  of  the  Stoic  syllogism  "  Quod  bo- 
num  est,  bonos  facit.  Nam  et  in  AETE  MUSICA  quod  bonum 
est,  facit  musicum.  Fortuita  bonum  non  faciunt:  ergo  non 
sunt  bona  ")  ;  88,  9,  more  important  than  the  science  of  music 
is  it  to  learn  quomodo  animus  secum  meus  consonet  nee  con- 
silia  mea  discrepent.  Ep.  114,  1  (a  faulty  oratorical  style 
compared  to  CHANTING).  Ep.  109,  2,  as  a  MUSICIAN  is  incited 
by  a  fellow-artist,  so  the  philosopher  is  incited  by  a  fellow-phi- 
losopher. Ep.  108,  10  (quoted  from  Cleanthes;  ideas  confined 
in  verse  compared  to  breath  confined  by  a  TRUMPET). 

(g)    WEAVING  AND   DYEING 

color:  Ep.  20,  2  omnium  actio  f  dissertionum  color  sit.  The  text  here 
is  corrupt.  For  MS.  readings  and  suggested  emendations,  see  Hense's  ap. 
crit.,  and  cf.  A.  J.  Kronenberg  in  Class.  Quart.  I,  3  (July,  1907),  p.  205 
for  another  conjecture.  Ep.  52,  4  hie  tertius  color  est;  cf.  secundae  sortis 
and  prima  nota  in  sect.  3.  See  Otto,  "Sprichworter,"  p.  15,  s.  v.  alienus  6), 
where,  however,  the  metaphors  are  not  from  the  same  sphere.  Ep.  75,  15 
color  tertius.  Ep.  100,  12  haeretque  mini  color  eorum  (sc.  scriptorum ) . 
This  example  may  seem  at  variance  with  the  statement  in  Antib.7,  i,  p. 
298,  but  the  meaning  is  different.  Ep.  108,  5  multis  aput  philosophum 
annis  persederint  et  ne  colorem  quidem  duxerint.  Ep.  114,  3  non  potest 
alius  esse  ingenio,  alius  animo  color. 

colorare:  Ep.  16,  2  non  sunt  ficta  nee  colorata  (sc.  quae  scribis).  Ep.  71, 
31  (disciplina)  animum  non  coloravit,  sed  infecit.  This  is  part  of  the 
comparison  with  wool-dyeing,  cited  below.  Colorare  does  not  occur  in 
Caesar  nor  in  Cicero's  orations.  The  only  examples  given  by  Merguet  in 
the  philosophical  works  of  Cicero  are  N.  D.  1,  39,  110  and  3,  20,  51,  both 
in  a  literal  sense.  In  Cic.  De  Or.  2,  14,  60  the  literal  and  the  figurative  use 
stand  side  by  side,  the  latter  modified  by  a  quasi;  cf.  id.  Brut.  46,  170 
urbanitate  qiiadam  quasi  colorata  oratio,  and  Or.  13,  42  educata  huius 
nutrimentis  eloquentia  et  ipsa  se  postea  colorat  et  roborat.  No  other  ex- 
ample of  the  participle  in  the  special  sense  it  has  in  Sen.  Ep.  16,  2  is 
cited  by  Lexx.;  but  cf.  the  adverb  colorate  in  Quint.  Decl.  285,  and  the 
verb  in  Val.  Max.  8,  2,  2  and  Prud.  Cath.  2,  35. 

conserere:  Ep.  90,  3  virtutem  consertarum.  I  can  find  no  parallel  for 
this  phrase.  The  usage  of  Caesar  and  of  Cicero,  as  shown  by  the  lexx.  of 
Meusel  and  Merguet,  confines  this  verb  to  the  military  phrase  with  manum 
(manus)  ;  but  the  adverb  conserte  is  found  in  Cic.  Fat.  14,  31  (translated 
from  Carneades)  and  14,  32  (referring  to  the  same).  For  sermonem 
conserere,  see  Antib.7,  I,  p.  338. 


Weaving  and  Dyeing  99 

contexere:  Ep.  33,  6  (of  quotable  passages  in  the  Stoic  writings)  perpetua 
et  inter  se  contexta.  Ep.  72,  4  contexitur  gaudium.  Ep.  114,  18  totus 
his  contexitur  liber.  Ep.  115,  18  apte  verba  contexta.  Cf.  intexere  and 
textorius. 

contextus:  Ep.  71,  12  totus  hie  rerum  omnium  contextus;  cf.  Cic.  Fin. 
5,  28,  83.  Ep.  106,  1  veniebat  in  contextum  operis  mei;  cf.  Tac.  H.  2,  8. 
For  the  use  of  contextus  as  a  rhetorical  term,  see  Antib.1,  n,  p.  145,  s.  v. 
nexus. 

inficere:  Ep.  59,  9  non  enim  inquinati  sumus,  sed  infecti.  Ep.  71,  31 
(see  under  color  are}.  Ep.  110,  8  si  ilia  (sc.  humanorum  divinorumque 
notitia)  se  non  perfuderit,  sed  infecerit. 

innectere:   Ep.  95,  55   (virtutes)    separatae  aut  innexae. 

intexere:  Ep.  94,  27  carmina  intexta.  Ep.  107,  10  hunc  operis  pulcher- 
rimi  cursum,  cui  quidquid  patiemur,  intextum  est. 

nectere:  Ep.  19,  6  seriem  .  .  .  causarum,  ex  quibus  nectitur  fatum.  Ep. 
24,  26  in  orbem  nexa  sunt  omnia.  Ep.  33,  5  ingenii  opus  nectitur.  Ep.  66, 
46  hominis  corpus  animumque  curantis  et  bonum  suum  ex  utroque  nectentis. 
Ep.  82,  23  interrogatiunculas.  Ep.  92,  4  bonum  rationalis  animi  ex  in- 
rationalibus.  Ep.  Ill,  2  ( quaestiunculas  vafras). 

nodosus:  Ep.  85,  1  quicquid  nodosi  adhuc  supererat,  praeterieram.  Cf. 
Sen.  Oed.  101  nodosa  sortis  verba,  et  implexos  dolos  |  .  .  .  solvi. 

nodus:  Ep.  45,  5  nectimus  nodos  et  ambiguam  significationem  verbis  inli- 
gamus.  Ep.  82,  19  artificii  veternosissimi  nodos.  Ep.  87,  38  unus  tibi 
nodus,  sed  Herculaneus  restat;  cf.  Herculaneus  scyphus  (Ep.  83,  23), 
discussed  on  p.  82.  H.  Lex.  is  inconsistent  in  its  explanation  of  this 
passage,  giving  it  s.  v.  Hercules,  u,  B,  as  an  illustration  of  Herculaneus 
in  the  sense  '  large ' ;  but  s.  v.  nodus,  I,  explaining  it  as  referring  to 
"  a  knot  difficult  to  untie,  of  which  Hercules  was  held  to  be  the  inventor." 
The  latter  view  corresponds  with  that  of  F-DV,  s.  v.  nodus  (9)  ;  cf.  Otto, 
"  Sprichworter,"  p.  162,  s.  v.  Hercules  4).  Ep.  117,  31  nodos  nectis.  Cf. 
Antib.7,  n,  p.  153  and  Otto,  op.  cit.,  p.  244. 

perfundere:  Ep.  36,  3  (see  tingere) ;  cf.  under  "Water  and  Fluids," 
p.  165. 

textorius:  Ep.  113,  26  textorium,  inquis,  totum  mehercules  istud.  The 
only  examples  of  this  word  given  by  Lexx.  are  here  and  (literal)  Col. 
9,  6,  1. 

tingere:  Ep.  36,  3  perbibere  liberalia  studia,  non  ilia,  quibus  perfundi 
satis  est,  sed  haec,  quibus  tingendus  est  animus. 

tinguere:  Ep.  66,  8  quidquid  attigit  (virtus)  .  .  .  tinguit.  The  word- 
play is,  perhaps,  intentional. 

The  only  comparison  is  in  Ep.  71,  31,  which  has  been  already 
referred  to  under  colorare.  The  dyeing  of  wool  is  used  here 
as  a  simile  to  introduce  a  metaphorical  description  of  the  way 
in  which  different  teachings  affect  the  mind.  In  this  connec- 


100  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

tion,  mention  may  be  made  of  the  detailed  description  of  the 
processes  of  weaving  which  is  quoted  from  Posidonius,  in  Ep. 
90,  20. 

(h)    MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY 
(See  also  under  "Health  and  Sickness,"  p.  39 ff.) 

abscidere:  Ep.  108,  16  (with  reference  to  luxuries  and  pleasures)  absci- 
duntur  facilius  animo  quam  temperantur. 

focillare:   Ep.   13,   14  tarn  lenibus  te  remediis  focillare. 

fomentum:  Ep.  90,  18  tecta  tegimentaque  et  fomenta  corporum  et  cibi. 
Pauly  considers  this  metaphorical  for  '  clothing.' 

medicina:  Ep.  50,  9    (applied  to  philosophy). 

percurare:  Ep.  94,  13  (mentem  aegram).  This,  and  Sen.  Dial.  11,  17,  3 
quicquid  imbecillum  in  animo,  nee  percuratum  est,  exulcerat,  are  the  only 
instances  given  by  Lexx.  for  the  tropical  use  of  this  word. 

remedium:  Ep.  69,  2  (in  the  intellectual  and  moral  sphere).  Ep.  78,  5 
quod  .  .  .  totius  vitae  remedium  est:  contemne  mortem.  Ep.  94,  7  in 
dolore  pro  remedio  futuram  obstinationem  animi.  Ep.  99,  32  (applied  to 
a  letter  of  condolence).  Ep.  105,  2  multi  in  illo  (i.  e.,  contemptu)  remedii 
causa  delituerint.  Ep.  108,  12  oratio  remedio  intenta.  Ep.  110,  11  novis 
malis  remedia  nova  quaeruntur.  Ep.  117,  33  (applied  to  philosophy). 

sanabilis:  Ep.  108,  4  qui  ad  philosophum  venit  .  .  .  aut  sanior  domum 
redeat  aut  sanabilior. 

sanare:  Ep.  40,  4  oratio,  quae  sanandis  mentibus  adhibetur.  Ep.  59,  15, 
nihil  sanantibus  litteris.  Ep.  94,  71  sanabis  ista  (i.  e.,  ambitionem,  luxu- 
riam,  inpotentiam ) ,  si  absconderis.  Ep.  117,  33  adsuescit  animus  delectare 
se  potius  quam  sanare. 

venenum:  Ep.  81,  22  (quoted  from  Attalus)  malitia  ipsa  maximam 
partem  veneni  sui  bibit.  Ep.  95,  25  boletos,  voluptarium  venenum. 

Comparisons — (1)  MEDICINE  AND  REMEDIES:  Ep.  2,  3  (dis- 
cursive reading  compared  to  the  bad  effect  of  frequently  chang- 
ing remedies  in  sickness).  Ep.  8,  2  (good  advice  compared  to 
medical  prescriptions).  Ep.  50,  9,  the  pleasure  derived  from 
other  remedies  comes  only  after  recovery;  philosophy  is  at  the 
same  time  salutary  and  sweet.  Ep.  64,  8  (medicines  for  the 
eyes  discussed  in  considerable  detail,  leading  to  an  implied  com- 
parison with  animi  remedia).  Ep.  70,  16,  we  often  let 
blood  to  relieve  an  aching  head;  so  the  lancet  may  often  open 
a  way  of  escape  from  trouble.  In  Ep.  78,  3-5,  Seneca,  after 
telling  of  his  own  recovery  from  an  almost  fatal  illness,  gives 


Medicine  and  Surgery  101 

a  series  of  rather  loose  comparisons  between  philosophy  and 
friendship  and  medical  remedies,  and  between  the  doctor  and 
the  philosopher,  concluding  with  an  interesting  sketch  of  the 
regimen  prescribed  for  an  invalid.  Ep.  87,  15  and  17  (ars 
medendi  as  one  of  a  series  of  illustrations  to  refute  the  propo- 
sition "  what  can  happen  to  any  contemptible  and  shameful 
person  is  not  good").  Ep.  89,  19  '  do  you  wish  the  remedies 
to  cease  before  the  faults  do?  The  more  you  object,  the  more 
shall  I  persist.  Medicine  is  beginning  to  do  good  when  the 
benumbed  body  becomes  sensitive  and  feels  pain.7  Ep.  95,  13- 
29  (a  comparison  between  the  increasing  complexity  of  phi- 
losophy and  that  of  medicine,  including  a  long  description  of 
the  various  phases  of  medical  practice  and  their  relation  to  the 
growth  of  civilization  and  its  vices).  Ep.  99,  29,  some  helpful 
remedies  cannot  be  applied  because  of  the  location  of  the  wound ; 
we  should  be  ashamed  to  use  pleasure  as  a  remedy  for  grief. 
Ep.  105,  1  i  I  suppose  you  listen  to  these  directions  in  the  same 
spirit  that  you  would  if  I  were  directing  you  how  to  take  care 
of  your  health  at  Ardea.' 

(2)  DOCTORS  AND  SURGEONS:  Ep.  22,  1-2,  the  teacher  of 
morals,  like  the  doctor,  cannot  treat  a  case  satisfactorily  by 
correspondence.  A  similar  idea  is  presented  briefly,  in  Ep. 
40,  5.  Ep.  52,  9-10,  the  philosopher,  like  the  surgeon,  must 
disregard  the  cries  and  groans  of  the  one  he  is  curing.  Ep.  75, 
6-7,  eloquence  is  no  more  essential  in  a  teacher  of  morals  than 
in  a  doctor;  the  former  has  as  serious  a  task  on  hand  as  has  a 
doctor  in  time  of  pestilence.  Ep.  78,  5  (in  the  course  of  the 
series  of  comparisons  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph 
Seneca  compares  his  own  advice  to  that  of  a  doctor).  Ep.  85, 
36  (a  doctor  compared  to  a  pilot).  Ep.  95,  9,  if  a  doctor  does 
not  know  that  his  patient  is  dying,  he  is  more  at  fault  than  if 
he  pretends  he  does  not  know  it;  but  in  the  art  of  living,  the 
voluntary  fault  is  the  more  disgraceful.  In  Ep.  97,  10-11  the 
doctor  is  one  of  a  series  of  illustrations  of  the  statement  that 
men  are  ashamed  of  their  failures  in  all  arts  except  that  of 
living.  Ep.  104,  19,  travel  does  not  make  a  doctor;  no  more 


102  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

can  wisdom  be  acquired  by  journeying.  Ep.  109,  14,  in  certain 
matters  the  wise  man  needs  advice  of  others  as  much  as  does 
the  doctor,  the  pilot,  or  the  lawyer.  Ep.  123,  IT,  philosophy 
ought  not  to  find  excuses  for  wrong-doing ;  there  is  no  hope  for 
the  sick  man  when  his  doctor  urges  him  to  intemperance. 

(i)    PERFUMERY 

No  metaphors.  The  only  comparison  is  Ep.  108,  4,  as  one 
who  tarries  in  a  perfumer's  shop  carries  some  of  the  fragrance 
away  with  him,  so  one  who  visits  a  philosopher  takes  away  some- 
thing which  is  beneficial  even  to  the  indifferent. 


H.     COMMERCE  AND  TRAVEL 

(a)    WEALTH,  PROPERTY,   BUSINESS,  DEBT 

We  should  naturally  expect  that  a  man  of  Seneca's  period 
and  circumstances  would  derive  many  metaphors  from  the 
terminology  of  property  and  business,  and  are  therefore  not 
surprised  to  find  that  there  are  considerably  over  two  hundred 
such  instances.  The  thing  which  is  surprising,  however,  and 
at  the  same  time  quite  characteristic  of  the  author,  is  the  very 
large  number  of  different  terms  which  he  uses,  and  the  com- 
parative infrequency  of  repetition.  Noteworthy  are  the  use, 
in  Epp.  5-29,  of  mercantile  terms  with  reference  to  quotations 
put  at  the  end  of  these  letters;  the  accumulation  of  metaphors 
of  indebtedness  and  value  in  Ep.  81,  7-9 ;  and  the  many  in- 
stances of  the  paradoxical  use  of  '  rich,'  i  poor,'  etc.,  in  Ep.  119. 

acceptum  ferre:  Ep.  78,  3  philosophiae  acceptum  fero,  quod  surrexi. 

aes:    Ep.  87,   17  virtus  .  .  .  suo  aere  censetur. 

aes  alienum:  Ep.  23,  9  (referring  to  a  quotation  from  Epicurus,  added 
to  this  letter)  hie  est  locus  solvendi  aeris  alieni;  similarly,  29,  10.  Ep. 
119,  1  (see  divitiae). 

aestimare:  Ep.  40,  11  Romanus  sermo  magis  se  .  .  .  aestimat  praebetque 
aestimandum.  Ep.  73,  11  (see  debere).  Ep.  81,  8  (see  pretium).  Ep.  81, 
20  pluris  aestimare  virtutem.  Ep.  81,  28  nihil  carius  aestimamus  quam 
beneficium,  quamdiu  petimus,  nihil  vilius,  cum  accepimus.  Ep.  104,  34 
hanc  (sc.  libertatem)  si  magno  aestimas,  omnia  parvo  aestimanda  sunt. 


Wealth  103 

aestimator:  Ep.  95,  58-59  haec  omnia  (i.  e.,  bona  et  mala,  honesta  et 
turpia,  etc.)  aestimatorem  desiderant. 

agere:  Ep.  99,  4  tarn  familiar!  studiorum  societate  nil  actum  est?  Ep. 
99,  10  nondum  dico  melius  agi  cum  eo,  qui  cito  vita  defungitur.  Ep.  100, 
10  eloquentiam  velut  umbram  non  hoc  agens  trahit. 

alienare:  Ep.  82,  15  ilia  quoque  res  morti  nos  alienat;  cf.  Antib.7,  I,  p. 
137.  Ep.  85,  24  istuc  dementis  alienatique,  non  fortis  est.  Ep.  87,  31 
(divitiae)  mentem  alienant.  According  to  H.  Lex.  the  use  of  mentem 
alienare  alicui,  '  make  one  crazy/  is  "  not  before  the  Aug.  per.,  perh. 
first  by  Livy  " ;  and  the  authors  cited  for  it  by  Lexx.  are  Livy,  pseudo- 
Sallust  (Ep.  de  Rep.  Ord.  1,  12,  6  amens  alienata  mente  feraris),  Suetonius, 
the  elder  Pliny,  and  the  Vulgate  Bible.  In  this  sense  mens  or  mente  is 
regularly  expressed,  but  note  the  second  example  above  and  Sen.  N.  Q.  2, 
53,  2  (odor  sulphuris)  saepius  haustus  alienat.  Cf.  Scrib.  Comp.  181 
mente  abalienantur  and  192  (ixia)  mentem  abalienat.  Ep.  89,  19  in  cor- 
pore  alienate;  cf.  Pliny,  N.  H.  23,  76  (spodium)  purgat  ulcera  alienata 
et  explet;  Gels.  7,  16  intestina  momento  enim  alienantur;  id.  8,  10,  1 
siquidem  id,  quod  adstrictum  est,  alienatur;  Scrib.  Comp.  213  propolis 
inalienatae  et  bonae  (where  sincerae  is  added  as  a  gloss  to  inalienatae) . 

alienus:  Ep.  69,  6  nihil  perdis  ex  tuo  tempore  (sc.  vitae).  Nam  quod 
relinquis,  alienum  est.  Similarly,  Ep.  77,  11. 

antecessus:  Ep.  7,  10  communicabo  tecum  .  .  .  dicta  .  .  .  tria;  ex  qui- 
bus  unum  haec  epistula  in  debitum  solvet,  duo  in  antecessum  accipe.  See 
Antib.7,  i,  p.  177.  Ep.  118,  1  (spelled  anti-  in  MSS.;  see  ratio). 

auctoramentum :  Ep.  69,  4  nullum  sine  auctoramento  malum  est.  In  the 
same  context  occur  pretium,  mercede,  and  gratis.  Ep.  104,  34  (opes) 
auctoramenta  sunt  servitutum;  cf.  Cic.  Off.  1,  42,  150.  See  also  under 
"The  Arena  and  Athletic  Contests,"  p.  74. 

bona  fide:  Ep.  56,  11;   71,  7    (fide  lona)  ;   79,  18;   83,  5;  85,  8. 

boni  consulere:  see  p.  79  for  examples  which  might,  perhaps,  be  in- 
cluded here  rather  than  under  the  more  general  heading. 

calculus:  Ep.  81,  6  vir  bonus  utrosque  calculos  sic  ponit,  ut  se  ipse  cir- 
cumscribat;  the  context  refers  to  the  repayment  of  benefits. 

circumscribere :  Ep.  81,  6  (see  under  calculus).  Cf.  circumscriptio  as  a 
legal  term,  on  p.  138. 

colligere:  Ep.  1,  1  tempus  .  .  .  collige  et  serva. 

commercium:  Ep.  18,  12  cum  paupertate  habere  commercium.  Ep.  38,  1 
epistularum. 

commodare:  Ep.  26,  8  (introducing  a  quotation)  interim  commodabit 
Epicurus.  Ep.  27,  8  (see  emere) .  Ep.  120,  18  animus  .  .  .  nihil  horum, 
quae  circa  sunt,  suum  iudicat,  sed  ut  commodatis  utitur. 

communis:  Ep.  95,  7  (ventum)  dubium  communemque  tibi  vindica.  Ep. 
119,  1  quotiens  aliquid  inveni,  non  expecto,  donee  dicas  'in  commune';  cf. 
Phaedr.  5,  6,  3  heia!  inquit,  in  commune  quodcumque  est  lucri. 

compensatio:  Ep.  81,  17  invitus  beneficium  per  compensationem  iniuriae 
solvet.  H.  Lex.  is  incorrect  in  saying  that  the  tropical  use  of  this  word 
is  confined  to  Cicero;  cf.  Antib.7,  i,  p.  310. 


104  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

computare:  Ep.  92,  25  nee  dies  suos  computare.  Ep.  99,  4  plerique  non 
computant,  quanta  perceperint. 

conferre:  Ep.  120,  18  ultimum  timemus  diem,  cum  tantumdem  in  mortem 
singuli  conferant. 

conlocare:  Ep.  93,  5  eum,  cui  quantulumcumque  temporis  contigit,  bene 
conlocatum  est.  Ep.  109,  15  praesentia  bene  conlocare. 

conmutare:   Ep.  81,  17   (see  under  inputare). 

consors:   Ep.  7,  11  consortibus  studiorum. 

consortium:  Ep.  48,  2  consortium  rerum  omnium  inter  nos  facit  amicitia. 
Ep.  73,  7  cuius  illi  cum  humano  genere  consortium.  Ep.  90,  3  inter 
homines.  Ep.  90,  36  avaritia  atque  luxuria  ...  ad  rapinam  ex  consortio 
discurrere  (if  the  text  is  correct,  but  cf.  Hense's  ap.  crit.).  See  Antib.7, 
I,  p.  342. 

constare:  Ep.  70,  16  puncto  securitas  constat.  Ep.  75,  5  si  (eloquentia) 
aut  parata  est  aut  parvo  constat.  Ep.  81,  28  non  parvo  sibi  constat  homo 
gratus.  Ep.  83,  3  non  magno  mihi  constat.  ( exercitatio  corporis ) .  Ep. 
88,  38  magno  impendio  temporum,  magna  alienarum  aurium  molestia  lau- 
datio  haec  constat.  Ep.  90,  16  simplici  cura  constant  necessaria.  Ep.  104, 
34  non  potest  gratis  constare  libertas;  see  Antib.7,  I,  p.  343.  Ep.  105,  5 
ne  pluris  remedium  quam  periculum  constet.  Ep.  120,  2  (in  a  different 
sense;  see  under  ratio).  Cf.  under  "General  Notions,"  p.  176. 

consummabilis :  Ep.  92,  27  (see  consummare) .  This,  with  Prud.  Psych. 
846  consummabilis  aevi,  are  the  only  examples  of  the  word  cited  by  Lexx. 

consummare:  Ep.  12,  8  dies  .  .  .  tamquam  consummet  atque  expleat 
vitam.  Ep.  32,  3  vitam  ante  mortem.  Ep.  72,  6  consummatae  sapientiae. 
Ep.  74,  20  quae  cursum  mundi  officiumque  consummant.  Ep.  88,  28  una 
re  consummatur  animus,  scientia  bonorum  ac  malorum.  Ep.  90,  44  non 
erant  ingenia  omnibus  consummata.  Ep.  92,  25  in  quantulo  libet  tempore 
bona  aeterna  consummat  (virtus).  Ep.  92,  27  ratio  ...  in  illis  (i.  e., 
dis)  consummata  est,  in  nobis  consummabilis.  Ep.  95,  1  ad  consumman- 
dam  sapientiam.  Ep.  124,  7  consummatus  homo.  Ep.  124,  11  natura  .  .  . 
consummata.  See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  349. 

credere:  Ep.  118,  1    (see  ratio). 

creditor:  Ep.  21,  11  venter  .  .  .  non  est  tamen  molestus  creditor:  parvo 
dimittitur,  si  modo  das  illi,  quod  debes,  non  quod  potes.  Ep.  119,  1-2  (see 
divitiae ) . 

damnum:  Ep.  49,  4  (of  the  passage  of  time)  conputare  damnum  meum. 

debere:  Ep.  1,  3  nemo  se  iudicet  quicquam  debere,  qui  tempus  accepit. 
Ep.  6,  7  (see  mercedula) ,  applied  to  a  quotation  with  which  the  letter 
concludes;  similarly,  Ep.  7,  10  (see  antecessus)  ;  9,  6  (see  paria  facere)  ; 
18,  14;  19,  10;  27,  9;  29,  10.  Ep.  21,  11  (see  inpendere) .  Ep.  51,  3 
illic  (i.  e.,  at  Baiae)  tamquam  aliqua  licentia  debeatur  loco,  magis  solvi- 
tur;  which  probably  involves  a  word-play  on  two  meanings  of  solvitur. 
Ep.  73,  9  (see  solvere).  Ep.  73,  11  si  ilia  otia  (referring  to  Verg.  E.  1,  6  ff.) 
multum  auctori  suo  debent,  .  .  .  quanti  aestimamus  hoc  otium,  quod  inter 
deos  agitur?  Ep.  78,  3  illi  (sc.  philosophiae )  vitam  debeo.  Ep.  81,  3 
(see  paria  facere).  Ep.  81,  8  non  omnes  grati  sciunt  debere  beneficium 


Wealth  105 

(debere  in  this  sense  occurs  7  times  in  the  rest  of  the  letter).  Ep.  87,  7. 
Ep.  90,  2  (philosophiam)  sibi  quisque  debet.  Ep.  100,  8  non  habet 
oratio  eius,  sed  debet  dignitatem.  Ep.  101,  9  quidquid  mihi  debui,  reddi- 
tum  est.  Ep.  102,  19  (see  solvere) .  Ep.  124,  11  debita  maturitas. 

defrudare:  Ep.  74,  9  vilem  praedam  magno  aliquo  incommodo  luimus 
aut  defrudamur  (according  to  Hense's  reading,  but  the  text  is  doubtful; 
see  his  ap.  crit.  and  cf.  M.  C.  GEETZ  in  Ber.  phil.  Wschr.,  1889,  p.  403, 
Note).  Cf.  fraudare. 

dependere:  Ep.  8,  7  (introducing  a  quotation  from  Epicurus)  aliquid 
...  pro  hac  epistula  dependendum.  Ep.  20,  9  pro  me  dependet  Epicurus. 
Ep.  76,  28  pro  quibus  dependit  animam. 

dives:  Ep.  119,  1  (see  divitiae)  ;  cf.  sect.  9  neminem  pecunia  divitem 
fecit.  This  metaphorical  and  often  paradoxical  use  of  dives,  divitiae,  etc., 
runs  through  the  letter. 

divitiae:  Ep.  119,  1-2  docebo,  quomodo  fieri  dives  celerrime  possis.  Quam 
valde  cupis  audire!  Nee  inmerito:  ad  maximas  te  divitias  conpendiaria 
ducam.  Opus  erit  tamen  tibi  creditore.  Ut  negotiari  possis,  aes  alienum 
facias  oportet,  sed  nolo  per  intercessorem  mutueris,  nolo  proxenetae  nomen 
tuum  iactent:  paratum  tibi  creditorem  dabo  Catonianum  ilium,  a  te  mu- 
tuum  sumes.  Quantulumcumque  est,  satis  erit,  si  quidquid  deerit,  id  a 
nobis  petierimus.  Ep.  119,  5  sapiens  divitiarum  naturalium  est  quaesitor 
acerrimus.  Ep.  119,  6  and  12.  Cf.  under  dives. 

donare:    Ep.   81,   4  beneficiis   donetur,   quod  ex   iniuria   superest. 

egestas:  Ep.  58,  1  quanta  verborum  nobis  paupertas,  immo  egestas  sit, 
.  .  .  intellexi.  .  .  .  Quis  autem  ferat  in  egestate  fastidium?  Note  how  the 
trite  metaphor  is  vitalized  by  the  context. 

emere:  Ep.  27,  8  bona  mens  nee  commodatur  nee  emitur.  Et  puto,  si 
venalis  esset,  non  haberet  emptorem.  At  mala  cotidie  emitur.  Ep.  70,  7 
non  omni  pretio  vita  emenda  est. 

emptor:  Ep.  27,  8  (see  emere).  Ep.  33,  3  non  habemus  (sc.  Stoici) 
itaque  ista  ocliferia  nee  emptorem  decipimus  nihil  inventurum,  cum  intra- 
verit,  praeter  ilia,  quae  in  fronte  suspensa  sunt. 

expungere:  Ep.  9,  20  Epicurus  .  .  .  vocem  emisit,  quam  tu  boni  consule, 
etiam  si  hunc  diem  iam  expunxi.  The  meaning  is  '  I  have  erased  the  day,' 
i.  e.,  '  have  paid  my  debt  for  today.'  The  word  does  not  occur  in  Cicero, 
and  I  have  found  no  other  instance  of  its  use  with  diem;  cf.,  however,  Sen. 
Ben.  4,  40,  4  munus  munere  expungere,  and  Dig.  44,  3,  4  rei  publicae 
rationes  subscriptae  et  expunctae. 

faenus:   Ep.  25,  3  cum  magno  faenore  vitia  reditura. 

fraudare:  Ep.  80,  4  peculiam  suum  quod  comparaverunt  (mancipia) 
ventre  fraudato,  pro  capite  numerant;  cf.  Ter.  Phorm.  43  f. 

gratis:  Ep.  17,  11  tibi  valedicere  non  licet  gratis  .  .  .  ab  Epicure  mu- 
tuum  sumam.  Ep.  21,  7  (see  redimere) .  Ep.  113,  31  iustum  esse  gratis 
oportet. 

gratuitus:  Ep.  42,  7  ea  gratuita  vocamus,  pro  quibus  nos  ipsos  inpendi- 
mus.  Ep.  105,  4  odium  aut  est  ex  offensa  .  .  .  aut  gratuitum;  cf.  Livy, 
1,  47,  1  (parricidia)  ;  2,  42,  6  (furor);  and  3,  37,  8  ( crudelitas ) . 


106  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

hereditas:  Ep.  64,  7  veneror  itaque  inventa  sapientiae  inventoresque : 
adire  tamquam  multorum  hereditatem  iuvat. 

iactura:  Ep.  49,  2  (see  increment um} . 

iconismus:  Ep.  95,  66  descriptiones  has  et,  ut  publicanorum  utar  verbo, 
iconismos  ex  usu  esse  confiteor.  The  word  is  cited  only  here  by  Lexx.,  and 
the  meaning  is  doubtful,  but  it  seems  to  signify  something  like  '  an  exhibit ' 
or  *  schedule.' 

incrementum:  Ep.  42,  9  non  solum  ubi  de  incremento  agetur,  sed  etiam 
ubi  de  iactura.  This  follows  a  long  comparison  from  barter  and  trade  in 
sectt.  7-8. 

inpendere:  (imp-)  :  Ep.  21,  11  huic  (sc.  voluptati)  nihil  debes;  si  quid 
inpendis,  voluntarium  est.  Ep.  25,  3  inpendam  huic  rei  dies;  cf.  Sen.  Here. 
Fur.  24  in  cuius  ortus  mundus  impendit  diem.  Ep.  27,  4  laborem.  Ep.  42, 
7  (see  gratuitus) .  Ep.  59,  10  exiguum  temporis  impendisse  philosophiae. 
Ep.  113,  31  in  hanc  pulcherrimam  virtutem  ultro  etiam  inpendere  iuvet. 

inpendium  (imp-)  :  Ep.  45,  12  magno  temporis  inpendio.  Ep.  88,  38 
magno  impendio  temporum. 

inputare  (imp-):  Ep.  8,  10  (see  solutum) .  Ep.  81,  17  (sapiens)  facilis 
erit  in  conmutando.  Patietur  plus  imputari  sibi.  Invitus  beneficium  per 
compensationem  iniuriae  solvet.  Ep.  93,  8  rerum  naturae  inputet,  quod 
fuit.  Merito  enim  inputabit:  meliorem  vitam  reddibit  quam  accepit. 
Ep.  104,  5  non  tantum  suum  mihi  timorem  inputare,  sed  etiam  meum.  See 
Antib.7,  i,  p.  701. 

institor:  Ep.  52,  15  si  modo  non  institorem,  sed  antistitem  nancta  est 
(philosophia)  ;  cf.  institor  eloquentiae  in  Quint.  8,  3,  12  and  11,  1,  50. 

intercessor:  Ep.  119,  1  (see  divitiae).  Cf.  intercedere  under  "Laws  and 
Courts,"  p.  140. 

invecticius:  Ep.  23,  5  gaudium.  The  word  is  post- Augustan  and  rare, 
being  cited  by  Lexx.  in  a  literal  sense  ('imported')  only  for  Pliny,  N.  H. 
10,  79  and  Ambros.  Off.  3,  7,  49;  and  in  a  tropical  sense  ('insincere') 
only  here. 

lucellum:  Ep.  5,  7  (referring  to  a  quotation  from  Hecato)  ut  huius 
quoque  diei  lucellum  tecum  communicem.  The  word  itself  is  Ciceronian 
(e.  g.,  Verr.  2,  3,  30,  sect.  72;  Div.  2,  14,  34),  but  this  is  the  only  instance 
given  of  its  tropical  use. 

lucrificare:  Ep.  37,  2  quid  porro  prodest  paucos  dies  aut  annos  lucrifi- 
care?  Other  edd.  here  read  luori  -fa-cere.  Lexx.  cite  lucrificare  only  for 
Tert.  Praesc.  24,  and  there  also  in  a  metaphorical  sense. 

lucrum:  Ep.  119,  1  sinum  laxa,  merum  lucrum  est. 

luere:  Ep.  27,  2  voluptates  .  .  .  magno  luendas.  Ep.  74,  9  (see  defru- 
dare ) . 

mancipium  (as  a  mercantile  t.  t.,  'a  permanent  possession')  :  Ep.  27,  7 
nihil  dat  fortuna  mancipio.  For  a  more  common  use,  see  under  "  Master 
and  Slave,"  p.  66. 

mercator:  Ep.  115,  10  pecunia,  ex  quo  in  honore  esse  coepit,  verus  rerum 
honor  cecidit,  mercatoresque  et  venales  in  vicem  facti  quaerimus  non  quale 
sit  quidque,  sed  quanti. 


Wealth  107 

mercedula:  Ep.  6,  7  (introducing  a  quotation  from  Hecato)  diurnam  tibi 
mercedulam  debeo)  ;  and  similarly,  Ep.  15,  9. 

merces:  Ep.  58,  34  exigua  temporis  mercede  magnae  rei  aleam  redimit. 
Ep.  81,  19  recte  facti  fecisse  merces  est.  Ep.  101,  13  qua  mercede?  Scilicet 
vitae  longioris.  Ep.  104,  5  habet  .  .  .  in  se  non  mediocre  ista  res  gaudium 
et  mercedem. 

merx:  Ep.  7,  9  quod  (i.  e.,  recitare  et  disputare)  facere  te  vellem,  si 
haberes  isti  populo  idoneam  mercem. 

mutuari:   Ep.  119,  1    (see  divitiae) . 

mutuum:  Ep.  17,  11  (see  gratis).  Ep.  26,  8  (referring  to  a  quotation 
from  Epicurus)  puta  me  non  dicere,  unde  sumpturus  sum  mutuum:  scis 
cuius  area  utar.  Ep.  87,  7  a  fortuna  mutuum  sumpserit.  Ep.  119,  2  (see 
divitiae. ) 

negotiari:   Ep.  119,  1    (see  divitiae). 

negotiatio:  Ep.  9,  10  ista,  quam  tu  describis,  negotiatio  est,  non  amicitia. 

negotium:  Ep.  8,  2  posterorum  negotium  ago;  similarly,  35,  1  meum 
negotium  ago;  36,  1  quam  utiliter  suum  negotium  gesserit  ('how  well  he 
has  done  for  himself;  colloquial);  75,  5  animi  negotium  agitur;  90,  19 
omnes  istae  artes  .  .  .  corporis  negotium  gerunt.  Ep.  13,  8  hodie  nihil  ne- 
gotii  ( 'trouble  ')  habet;  similarly,  15,  9.  This  use  of  the  word  is  colloquial; 
cf.  Gell.  16,  7,  12  duas  uxores?  hercle  hoc  plus  negoti  est,  inquit  coctio. 
Ep.  14,  11  eloquentia  .  .  .  quieta  et  sui  negotii.  Ep.  21,  1  cum  istis  tibi 
esse  negotium  iudicas;  98,  14  fortunae  dicere:  "  cum  viro  tibi  negotium  est: 
quaere,  quern  vincas." 

nomen:  Ep.  18,  8  illo  nomine  te  suspice  (cf.  our  phrase  'on  that  ac- 
count ' )  ;  83,  3  hoc  nomine  ago  gratias  senectuti :  non  magno  mihi  constat 
( exercitatio  corporis ) . 

numeratio:  Ep.  26,  8  expecta  me  pusillum,  et  de  domo  fiet  numeratio: 
interim  commodabit  Epicurus.  ti  •  C^  •  l£  •  I  f  • 

nundinae:  Ep.  118,  3  stare  otiosum  et  spectare  illas  nundinas  nee  emen- 
tem  quicquam  nee  vendentem  (the  reference  is  to  an  election  day). 

opulentus:  Ep.  23,  5  ilia  (sc.  metalla)  opulentissima  sunt,  quorum  in 
alto  latet  vena. 

pacisci:  Ep.  101,  15  multi  peiora  adhuc  pacisci  parati  sunt:  etiam 
amicum  prodere,  ut  diutius  vivant;  cf.  pactio. 

pactio:  Ep.  101,  13  (referring  to  the  willingness  of  Maecenas  to  submit 
to  anything  if  only  he  may  live)  timoris  dementissimi  pactio. 

paria  facere:  Ep.  9,  6  ut  statim  tibi  solvam,  quod  debeo,  et  quantum 
ad  hanc  epistulam,  paria  facimus.  Ep.  81,  3  an  is,  qui  profuit  nobis,  si 
postea  nocuit,  paria  fecerit  et  nos  debito  solverit.  Ep.  101,  7  cotidie  cum 
vita  paria  faciamus.  This  phrase  is  post-Augustan.  In  a  literal  sense 
it  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  for  Columella  (1,  8,  13  and  11,  1,  24);  in  a 
tropical  sense,  outside  of  Seneca,  only  for  the  elder  Pliny  (N.  H.  2,  202 
and  37,  3)  and  Quintilian  (Decl.  6,  6;  9,  16;  and  12,  24).  Cf.  Sen.  Ben. 
3,  9,  3,  and  Dial.  2,  25,  2;  also  Sen.  Ep.  19,  10  parem  rationem  facere, 
and  Pliny,  Paneg.  6,  5  paria  accipere. 

pauper:  Ep.  119,  7  post  Dareum  et  Indos  pauper  est  Alexander;  cf.  dives. 

paupertas:  Ep.  58,  1    (see  egestas).     Ep.  119,  10;   cf. 


108  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

peculiaris:  Ep.  122,  9  dies  publicus  relinquatur:  propriuin  nobis  ac  pecu- 
liare  mane  fiat. 

peculium:   Ep.  12,  10  sine  ullo  ad  me  peculio  veniet    (epistula)  ? 

pensio:  Ep.  29,  10  si  pudorem  haberes,  ultimam  mihi  pensionem  remi- 
sisses  (i.  e.,  you  would  not  require  me  to  add  the  usual  quotation,  at  the 
end  of  this  letter — which  is  the  last  in  Bk.  III). 

persolvere:  Ep.  109,  17  persolvi  id,  quod  exegeras.     Cf.  solvere. 

pignus:  Ep.  26,  5  levia  sunt  ista  (i.  e.,  res  aut  verba)  et  fallacia  pignora 
animi. 

portorium:  Ep.  28,  9  tempus  est  desinere,  sed  si  prius  portorium  solvero 
(referring  to  the  quotation  at  the  close  of  the  letter). 

possessio:  Ep.  1,  3  in  huius  rei  (i.  e.,  temporis)  .  .  .  possessionem  na- 
tura  nos  misit.  Ep.  92,  32  hunc  (i.  e.,  animum)  in  possessionem  rerum 
naturae  inducere. 

possessor:   Ep.  12,  9  securus  sui  possessor. 

possidere:  Ep.  55,  11  amicus  animo  possidendus  est.  Ep.  94,  12  aures 
eius  .  .  .  fama  possedit.  Ep.  95,  37  falsa  admiratio  et  falsa  formido. 
Haec  nos  quamdiu  possident. 

pretiosus:  Ep.  90,  2  hoc  in  ilia  (sc.  philosophia)  pretiosum  atque  magni- 
ficum  est. 

pretium:  Ep.  66,  11  (virtutes)  non  eodem  pretio  aestimantur.  Ep.  69, 
4  pretium  .  .  .  occupationis  suae  aspiciet  (adfectus).  Ep.  71,  21  omnia 
eiusdam  mensurae  ac  pretii  sunt.  Ep.  76,  28  cum  mortis  suae  pretia  ante 
se  posuit,  libertatem  patriae,  salutem  omnium.  Ep.  81,  8  non  pono  utrique 
par  pretium.  Pluris  aestimo  beneficium  quam  iniuriam.  Ep.  81,  19  vir- 
tutum  omnium  pretium  in  ipsis  est.  Ep.  81,  28  divitiae,  honores,  potentia 
et  cetera,  quae  opinione  nostra  cara  sunt,  pretio  suo  vilia.  Ep.  88,  5  ab 
honesto  ne  immortalitatis  quidem  pretio  recedentem.  Ep.  90,  35  cuius  (sc. 
philosophiae)  hoc  pretium  est,  non  posse  pretio  capi. 

proxeneta:   Ep.   119,   1    (see  divitiae). 

ratio:  Ep.  19,  10  tecum  hac  Maecenatis  sententia  parem  facere  rationem. 
Ep.  118,  1  exigis  a  me  frequentiores  epistulas.  Rationes  conferamus:  sol- 
vendo  non  eris.  .  .  .  Sed  non  ero  difficilis:  bene  credi  tibi  scio.  Itaque  in 
anticessum  dabo.  Ep.  120,  2  honestum  putant,  cui  ratio  recti  officii 
constat.  The  mercantile  t.  t.  ratio  constat,  '  the  account  is  right,'  is  cited 
by  Lexx.  in  a  tropical  sense  only  from  the  younger  Pliny  (frequent), 
Tacitus,  Justinus  and  Suetonius. 

redimere:  Ep.  21,  7  ne  gratis  Idomeneus  in  epistulam  meam  venerit,  ipse 
earn  de  suo  redimet.  Ep.  76,  27  pro  patria  moriaris  et  salutem  omnium 
civium  tua  redimas.  Ep.  102,  2  (with  somnium  as  object). 

repraesentare :  Ep.  95,  1  ut  id,  quod  in  diem  suum  dixeram  debere  differri, 
repraesentem  et  scribam  tibi. 

societas:  Ep.  31,  5  virtutis  ac  malitiae.  Ep.  65,  22  distraham  cum  illo 
(sc.  corpore)  societatem.  Et  nunc  tamen,  dum  haeremus,  non  erimus 
aequis  partibus  socii:  animus  ad  se  omne  ius  ducet. 

socius:  Ep.  31,  8  incipis  deorum  socius  esse.  Ep.  65,  22  (see  societas). 
Ep.  92,  30  et  socii  sumus  eius  (i.  e.,  the  universe)  et  membra.  Ep.  104, 


Wealth  109 

29  nisi  forte  Cn.  Pompeium  et  Caesarem  et  Crassum  putas  libertatis  socios 
fuisse. 

solutio:  Ep.  73,  9   (see  solvere). 

solutum:  Ep.  8,  10  hoc  non  inputo  in  solutum  (referring  to  a  quotation 
in  the  letter). 

solvere:  Ep.  7,  10  (see  antecessus) .  Ep.  73,  9  docet  philosophia  .  .  . 
bene  debere  beneficia,  bene  solvere:  interdum  autem  solutio  est  ipsa  con- 
fessio.  Ep.  81,  17  (see  inputare) .  Ep.  97,  16  scelera  .  .  .  supplicia  .  .  . 
de  praesentibus  solverent.  Ep.  102,  19  iustitia  et  habentis  bonum  sit  et 
autem  sit  eius,  cui  debitum  solvit.  Ep.  118,  1  (see  ratio). 

stips:  Ep.  14,  17  (introducing  a  quotation)  ad  cotidianam  stipem 
manum  porrigis.  Aurea  te  stipe  implebo. 

tanti:  Ep.  77,  17  patriam?  Tanti  enim  illam  putas,  ut  tardius  cenes? 
Ep.  81,  2  est  tanti,  ut  gratum  invenias,  experiri  et  ingratos.  Ep.  82,  18 
bonorum,  ad  quae  pervenire  tanti  sit.  Ep.  104,  3  non  amicum  tanti  putat, 
ut  diutius  in  vita  commoretur. 

usura:   Ep.  95,  23  has  usuras  voluptatium  pendimus. 

venalis:    Ep.  27,  8    (see  emere).     Ep.    115,   10    (see  mercator). 

versura:   Ep.   19,  10  ab  Epicuro  versura  facienda  est. 

vilis:  Ep.  81,  28  (see  pretium).  Ep.  116,  5  (quoted  from  Panaetius) 
rem  (sc.  amorem)  commotam,  inpotentem,  alteri .  emancupatam,  vilem  sibi. 

vilitas:  Ep.  120,  2  tanti  fit  apud  illos  boni  vilitas.  Ep.  121,  24  in  nullo 
deprendes  vilitatem  sui.  The  only  other  instances  of  vilitas  sui  cited  by 
Lexx.  are  Sen.  Clem.  1,  3,  4  and  Curt.  5,  9,  7. 

Comparisons,  nearly  all  of  which  are  of  considerable  length 
and  well  balanced:  Ep.  1,  4  (using  time  compared  to  SPEND- 
ING ONE'S  INCOME).  Ep.  36,  5,  moral  BANKRUPTCY  is  more 
disgraceful  than  financial.  Ep.  42,  8,  in  all  plans  and  things 
our  course  should  be  the  same  as  when  we  go  to  the  VENDER  of 
any  ware;  we  should  see  how  much  is  asked  for  the  thing  we 
desire.  Ep.  74,  18,  temporary  blessings  are  to  be  used  as  a 
TRUST-FUND,  which  will  be  taken  from  us.  Ep.  81,  2  (one 
whose  kindness  has  not  been  returned,  compared  to  a  MONEY- 
LENDER with  a  defaulting  debtor).  Ep.  81,  17,  as  he  who  pays 
is  more  joyful  than  he  who  BORROWS,  so  he  who  returns  a  kind- 
ness ought  to  be  happier  than  he  who  receives  one.  Ep.  81, 
18,  as  in  the  case  of  money  BORROWED  ON  INTEREST,  the  longer 
the  return  of  kindnesses  is  deferred,  the  larger  the  payment 
must  be.  Ep.  81,  26,  the  philosopher  who  has  been  injured  by 
a  former  benefactor  ceases  to  be  indebted  to  him,  but  does  not 
cease  to  wish  to  be  indebted,  et  hoc  facit,  quod  qui  post  TABULAS 


110  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

NOVAS  solvunt.  Ep.  87,  18,  the  value  of  a  PURSE  is  not  in  itself 
but  in  what  it  holds;  the  same  is  true  of  the  owners  of  great 
inheritances.  Ep.  87,  28  (the  pursuit  of  virtue,  compared  to 
the  pursuit  of  RICHES).  Ep.  89,  6,  as  MONEY  is  the  object  of 
avarice,  so  wisdom  is  the  object  of  philosophy.  Ep.  93,  4,  in 
life,  as  in  our  TREASURES  (pretiosa  rerum),  the  weight  is  more 
important  than  the  size.  In  Ep.  94,  6  the  statement  that  it  is 
of  no  use  to  show  a  POOR  MAN  how  to  act  like  a  rich  man,  so 
long  as  he  remains  poor,  occurs  in  a  series  of  illustrations  to 
show  that  principles  are  superior  to  specific  rules.  In  Ep.  95, 
3  a  long  letter,  which  Lucilius  is  bringing  upon  himself,  is 
compared  to  RICHES,  which,  after  being  eagerly  sought,  turn 
into  an  evil. 

(b)   WEIGHTS  AND  MEASURES 

In  view  of  the  rather  limited  field  which  this  division  covers, 
the  number  of  tropes  is  fairly  large.  I  have  included  under 
this  heading,  rather  than  under  "  General  Notions,"  words 
of  i  lightness,'  '  weight,'  and  '  capacity,'  in  general.  The 
metaphors  are: 

ad:   Ep.  93,  8  usque  ad  sapientiam  vivere. 

adgravare:  Ep.  91,  3  inexpectata  plus  adgravant:  novitas  adicit  calami- 
tatibus  pondus.  Cf.  Sen.  Ben.  4,  13  (beneficia)  and  id.  Phaed.  142  quid 
domum  infamem  aggravas  ?  H.  Lex.  says  the  verb  is  "  perh.  formed  by 
Livy,  who  uses  it  very  often."  The  other  authors  cited  by  Lexx.  are 
Phaedrus,  Columella,  Curtius,  the  elder  Pliny,  Quintilian,  and  the  Vulgate 
Bible  (numerous  instances).  The  only  examples  in  a  literal  sense  are 
from  Pliny  and  the  Vulgate  Bible.  Cf.  degravcure. 

capax:  Ep.  89,  2  singula  quaeque  ostendi  facilius  possunt  universi  non- 
dum  capacibus.  Ep.  92,  30  animus.  Ep.  124,  8  non  magis  infans  .  .  . 
boni  capax  est. 

capere:  Ep.  88,  41  (see  metiri).  Ep.  108,  2  (see  haurire,  p.  71).  Ep. 
124,  19  si  natura  illorum  (sc.  animalium)  ordinem  caperet. 

degravare:  Ep.  30,  1  iam  plus  ilium  degravat  (aetas)  quam  quod  possit 
attolli:  magno  senectus  et  universo  pondere  incubuit.  Ep.  74,  18  illos 
degravant  ipsa,  quae  extulerant.  Cf.  adgravare. 

enormis:  Ep.  Lib.  xxn  (Exc.  Gell.),  10  duros  quosdam  versus  et  enor- 
mes  et  aliquid  supra  mensuram  trahentis. 

exonerare:  Ep.  3,  4  in  quaslibet  aures,  quicquid  illos  urserit,  exonerant; 
cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  445  curas  Bacchus  exoneret  graves.  Ep.  86,  3  (Scipio)  in 
exilium  voluntarium  secessit  et  civitatem  exoneravit. 


Weights  and  Measures 


expendere:  Ep.  82,  20  haec  ipsa  .  .  .  solvere  malim  et  expendere. 
Although  this  word  is  classical  in  the  sense  '  estimate,  consider  the  value 
of,'  G.  L.  HENDRICKSON,  in  Class.  Philol.  i,  1  (Oct.,  1906),  p.  412,  would 
change  the  metaphor  here  and  read  "  expandere." 

gravis:  Ep.  76,  30  (see  levis)  .  Ep.  78,  13  (vitialized  by  onerare,  q.  v.). 
Ep.  78,  17  sed  grave  est.  Quid?  nos  ad  hoc  fortes  sumus,  ut  levia  por- 
temus?  Here,  also,  the  vitalizing  of  the  trite  metaphor  is  to  be  noted. 
Ep.  104,  27  (see  onus).  Ep.  108,  14  (see  pondus).  Ep.  122,  14  et  gravis 
malae  conscientiae  (dative)  lux  est. 

gravitas:  Ep.  91,  12  gravitas  caeli  egesserit  populos;  cf.  Cic.  Att.  11, 
22,  2  (caeli);  Livy,  23,  34,  11  (caeli  aquarumque)  ;  id.  25,  26,  13  (loci). 
The  somewhat  similar  use  of  this  word  with  reference  to  offensive  odors 
seems  to  be  limited  to  the  elder  Pliny,  but  examples  of  it  in  connection 
with  corporis,  membrorum,  aurium,  etc.,  in  the  sense  '  diseased  condition, 
sickness  '  are  more  numerous,  including  some  from  Cicero.  Ep.  95,  25 
ostrea,  inertissimam  carnem  caeno  saginatam,  nihil  existimas  limosae  gra- 
vitatis  inferre?  Ep.  104,  6  gravitatem  urbis  excessi  et  ilium  odorem  culi- 
narum  fumantium.  Ep.  115,  3  (see  pondus). 

levis:  Ep.  18,  10  voluptas  .  .  .  levis  et  fugax.  Ep.  47,  21  levis  est 
malitia,  saepe  mutatur.  Ep.  76,  30  cetera  levia  sunt,  mutabilia  .  .  . 
Etiam  si  favente  fortuna  in  unum  congesta  sunt,  dominis  suis  incubant 
gravia  et  illos  semper  premunt,  aliquando  et  inlidunt.  The  oxymoron 
of  levia  .  .  .  gravia  may  be  intentional;  but  the  juxtaposition  is  somewhat 
unfortunate.  Ep.  78,  13  (see  onerare).  Ep.  78,  17  (see  gravis).  Ep.  79, 
12  (animus)  purusque  ac  levis.  Cf.  levare  under  "Words  indicating 
General  Actions,"  p.  178. 

leviter:    Ep.   108,   12  leviterque  corruptis. 

mensura:  Ep.  66,  9  omnis  in  modo  est  virtus.  Modo  (dative)  certa 
mensura  est.  Ep.  71,  21  (see  pretium,  p.  108).  Ep.  74,  26  summi  boni. 
Ep.  83,  18  stomachi  sui  non  nosse  mensuram.  Ep.  85,  22  (vitam  beatam) 
numero  aestimat  et  mensura.  Ep.  115,  4  (faciem  animi)  extantem  super- 
que  mensuram  solitorum  .  .  .  elatam.  Ep.  Lib.  xxn  (Exc.  Gell.),  10  (see 
enormis  )  . 

metiri:  Ep.  24,  2  tecum  ipse  metire;  similarly  43,  1.  Ep.  39,  5  neces- 
saria  metitur  utilitas.  Ep.  71,  6  hominem  deo  metientur.  Ep.  78,  27 
(vitam  voluptatibus  )  .  Ep.  88,  10  metiar,  quantum  homini  satis  est.  Ep. 
88,  13  si  artifex  es,  metire  hominis  animum.  Ep.  88,  41  metire  aetatem 
tuam:  tarn  multa  non  capit.  Ep.  91,  16  nos  tumulis  metiaris  et  his 
monumentis.  Ep.  92,  25  maiestatem  enim  eius  (sc.  virtutis)  ex  nostra 
inbecillitate  metimur.  Ep.  93,  4  actu  illam  (sc.  virtutem)  metiamus,  non 
tempore.  Ep.  110,  4  omnia  humana  condicione  metire.  Ep.  124,  24  formu- 
lam  dabo,  qua  te  metiaris.  Cf.  remetiri. 

modus:  Ep.  19,  5  intra  natalium  tuorum  modum.  Ep.  39,  5  cupiditas, 
quae  naturalem  modum  transilit.  Ep.  81,  6  quod  modum  beneficii  prioris 
excessit. 

momentum:  Ep.  92,  5  quod  potest  in  hac  claritate  solis  habere  scintilla 
momentum? 


112  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

numerate:   Ep.  114,  27  si  unusquisque  se  numeret. 

numerus:  Ep.  71,  16  (virtus)  habet  numeros  suos,  plena  est.  Ep.  85, 
22  (see  mensura) . 

onerare:  Ep.  14,  2  nos  nimius  amor  (corporis)  .  .  .  sollicitudinibus 
onerat.  Ep.  78,  13  noli  mala  tua  facere  tibi  ipse  graviora  et  te  querellis 
onerare.  Levis  est  dolor  .  .  .  levem  ilium,  dum  putas,  facies.  Ep.  83,  16 
onerati  mero  (quoted  as  part  of  a  commonplace  of  the  declamatores) . 
Ep.  104,  34  domos  onerat.  Ep.  108,  12  urge,  hoc  preme,  hoc  onera  relictis 
ambiguitatibus ;  but  both  text  and  interpretation  here  are  doubtful, 
onerosus:  Ep.  42,  5  quam  onerosa  essent,  quae  petebat. 

onus:  Ep.  17,  1  ne  aut  paupertas  mihi  oneri  sit  aut  ego  alicui.  Ep.  22,  7 
turpe  est  cedere  oneri.  Luctare  cum  officio.  Ep.  24,  18  meliora  restant 
onere  detracto  (cf.  sect.  17  corporis  mei  pondus)  ;  similarly,  92,  33.  Ep. 
26,  2  magnam  partem  oneris  sui  posuit.  Ep.  28,  2  onus  animi  (objective 
gen.)  deponendum  est  (cf.  sect.  3-  excutias  insidens  pondus).  Ep.  50,  2 
Harpasten  .  .  .  scis  hereditarium  onus  in  domo  mea  remansisse.  Ep.  71, 
25  omnia  rerum  adversarum  onera  rigida  cervice  sustollat.  The  metaphor 
of  carrying  a  burden  or  falling  under  it  runs  through  this  section  and 
the  next,  ending  in  sect.  26  with  scit  se  esse  oneri  ferendo.  Similarly, 
Ep.  102,  26  (starting  with  sarcinas,  in  sect.  24)  ;  and  104,  20.  Ep.  84,  6 
solida  innatant  stomacho,  onera  sunt.  Ep.  84,  11  (divitias).  Ep.  92,  16 
inconimodorum.  Ep.  104,  27  paupertate,  quam  graviorem  illi  domestica 
onera  faciebant.  Ep.  108,  2  aptari  onus  viribus  debet.  Ep.  114,  22  mens 
cessit  oneri  (sc.  vini). 

patere:  Ep.  23,  5  (gaudium)  quod  plus  pateat  introrsus.  Ep.  53,  11 
tantum  sapienti  sua,  quantum  deo  omnis  aetas  patet.  Ep.  66,  30  bona 
vera  idem  pendent,  idem  patent  (note  the  parechesis,  as  also  in  Ep.  93,  4 
ut  .  .  .  vita  nostra  non  multum  pateat,  sed  multum  pendeat).  The  meta- 
phorical use  of  patere,  '  extend,'  which  is  not  found  in  Caesar  but  is  com- 
mon in  Cicero  (e.  g.,  Off.  1,  7,  24  longissime  patet  avaritia),  is  not  cited 
from  any  other  author  by  Lexx.  For  a  different  sense  of  patere,  see  under 
"  General  Notions,"  p.  174. 

pendere:  Ep.  66,  30  (see  under  patere).  It  is  resumed  by  pondus,  two 
lines  below.  Ep.  93,  4  (see  patere).  For  different  meaning,  see  under 
"  Words  indicating  General  Actions,"  p.  179. 

perpendere:  Ep.  80,  10  si  perpendere  te  voles.  Ep.  90,  34  quanti  quidque 
esset,  vera  aestimatione  perpendit. 

ponderosus:  Ep.  93,  11  annales  Tanusii  .  .  .  ponderosi.  The  context 
makes  it  uncertain  how  far  this  retains  its  literal  sense;  and  the  same 
is  true  of  Cic.  Att.  2,  11,  1  (epistola),  which,  with  Val.  Max.  6,  4,  1 
(vox)  are  the  only  examples  given  by  Lexx.  for  its  metaphorical  use. 

pondus:  Ep.  24,  17  ad  hoc  me  natura  grave  corporis  mei  pondus  ad- 
strinxit.  Ep.  28,  3  (see  under  onus).  Ep.  30,  1  (see  degravare ) .  Ep.  91, 
3  (see  adgravare).  Ep.  94,  27  ipsa,  quae  praecipiuntur,  per  se  multum 
habent  ponderis.  Ep.  94,  43  brevissimis  vocibus,  sed  multum  habentibus 
ponderis.  Ep.  108,  14  quidquid  usum  excederet,  pondus  esset  supervacuum 
et  grave  ferenti.  Ep.  115,  3  quantum  ponderis  gravitatisque  adderent. 
Ep.  117,  25  secretarum  cupiditatium  pondus  effundam. 


Travelling  (by  Land)  113 

praeponderare :    Ep.    81,   4   quamvis   iniuriae   praeponderent. 

remetiri:  Ep.  95,  21  vinum  omne  vomitu  remetiuntur.  The  only  other 
similar  examples  cited  by  Lexx.  are  Sen.  Dial.  1,  3,  13  quicquid  biberunt, 
vomitu  remetientur;  and  Mart.  6,  89,  5  vina  remensus. 

The  only  comparison  is  Ep.  94,  63,  where  it  is  said  that 
Alexander  could  not  check  his  own  career  any  more  than  a 
falling  weight  can  stop  itself. 


(c)   TRAVELLING   (BY  LAND) 

This  is  another  case  where  we  are  impressed,  not  so  much  by 
the  large  number  of  examples  (for  the  majority  of  them  are 
connected  with  the  rhetorical  and  philosophical  commonplaces  of 
'  progress  toward  perfection  '  and  '  the  journey  of  life  '),  as  by 
the  skill  which  our  author  shows  in  producing  variations  on 
familiar  themes.  There  are  some  very  beautiful  metaphors 
and  similes  falling  under  this  caption.  Words  of  '  running/ 
'  hastening/  '  going/  and  '  leading '  have  been  included  here ; 
for,  although  in  a  few  cases  the  metaphor  is  of  such  an  indefi- 
nite nature  that  it  might  belong  under  the  head  of  "  General 
Notions/7  it  was  often  so  difficult  to  distinguish  between  slightly 
different  applications  of  the  same  word  that  it  appeared  best  to 
keep  them  all  together  in  the  same  division.  It  should  be 
further  observed  that  the  number  of  separate  examples  is  not 
quite  so  large  as  the  following  list  would  appear  to  indicate, 
because  several  of  the  expressions  may  occur  in  the  same  pas- 
sage, carrying  out  the  metaphor  which  runs  through  the  whole 
of  it.  The  list  is  as  follows: 


abducere:  Ep.  97,  12  animis  ...  in  pessima  abductis.  Ep.  110,  9  ab 
hac  divina  contemplatione  abductum  animum.  Ep.  123,  6  consuetudine 
abducimur. 

aberrare:  Ep.  98,  14  sequamurque  naturam,  a  qua  aberrant!  cupiendum 
timendumque  est.  For  an  example  connected  with  archery,  see  p.  88. 

abesse:  Ep.  55,  10  etiam  praesentibus  abest.  Ep.  55,  11  amicus  animo 
possidendus  est;  hie  autem  numquam  abest.  Ep.  82,  7  facile  provocabas 
mala  absentia. 

abire:  Ep.  23,  6  voluptates  ...  in  contrarium  abituras.  Ep.  122,  5 
nee  tantum  discedere  a  recto,  sed  quam  longissime  abire. 


114  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

accedere:  Ep.  9,  10  ad  commodum.  Ep.  48,  4  in  diversum  ecce  sapientia 
et  stultitia  discedunt:  cui  accede?  In  utram  ire  partem  iubes?  Ep.  82, 
7  (mors,  subject)  ;  also,  98,  17.  Ep.  92,  27  accedimus  ad  ilia  (sc.  virtu- 
tern  et  beatam  vitam),  non  pervenimus.  Ep.  108,  17  quanto  maiore  impetu 
ad  philosopliiam  iuvenis  accesserim  quam  senex  pergam.  Ep.  110,  5  ad  id, 
quo  perturbabatur.  Ep.  120,  18  ad  mortem  dies  extremus  pervenit,  accedit 
omnis. 

accelerare:  Ep.  32,  3  (part  of  a  sustained  metaphor,  including  a  com- 
parison with  warfare). 

accessus:  Ep.  30,  9  mortis;  also,  82,  16.  Ep.  70,  27  fati  varies  esse 
accessus. 

adducere:  Ep.  36,  11  (annus  aestatem).  Ep.  56,  1  omnia  genera  vocum, 
quae  in  odium  possunt  aures  adducere.  Ep.  56,  4  (vox  animum).  Ep. 
57,  4  vultum  adducet  ad  tristia  et  inhorrescet  ad  subita.  Ep.  59,  6  (para- 
bolae)  et  dicentem  et  audientem  in  rem  praesentem  adducant.  Ep.  64,  2 
sermo  .  .  .  nullam  rem  usque  ad  exitum  adducens.  Ep.  66,  8  (virtus) 
in  similitudinem  sui  adducit.  Ep.  94,  8  ( see  conspectus,  p.  49 ).  Ep. 
106,  9  non  tristitia  adducit?  The  text  is  uncertain,  though  most  editors 
adopt  this  reading;  see  Hense,  ap.  crit.,  and,  for  possible  meaning,  cf.  Ep. 
57,  4,  quoted  above,  and  H.  Lex.,  s.  v.,  I.  B,  2. 

adgredi:    Ep.  91,  4    (fortuna,  subject). 

adire:  Ep.  82,  12  virtus  adiit;  but  "  adtigit,"  the  conjecture  of  A.  J. 
Kronenberg,  in  Class.  Quart,  i,  3  (July,  1907),  p.  207,  is  very  plausible. 
Ep.  84,  13  (see  trames).  Ep.  90,  7  ut  tempestatum  periculum  non  adiret 
gula. 

adventicius:  Ep.  98,  1  fragilibus  innititur,  qui  adventicio  laetus  est: 
exibit  gaudium,  quod  intravit.  Note  how  the  metaphor  is  emphasized 
by  exibit  and  intravit,  and  by  ex  se  ortum  in  the  next  sentence.  Cf.  Sen. 
Dial.  6,  10,  1  quicquid  est,  Marcia,  quod  circa  nos  ex  adventicio  fulget; 
and  Dial.  12,  5,  1  leve  momentum  in  adventiciis  rebus  est.  Outside  of 
Seneca  and  Cicero,  who  employs  it  quite  frequently,  the  only  authors  cited 
by  Lexx.  for  the  metaphorical  use  of  adventicius  are  Varro,  Livy,  and 
Suetonius;  and  Scaevola,  Javolenus,  and  Ulpian,  in  the  Digest. 

ambages:  Ep.  114,  8  (of  the  style  of  Maecenas)  istae  ambages  composi- 
tionis,  .  .  .  verba  transversa. 

antecedere:  Ep.  15,  10  cum  aspexeris,  quot  te  antecedant,  cogita,  quot 
sequantur.  Ep.  98,  7  dementia  est  malum  suum  antecedere.  Ep.  99,  7 
( see  under  it er ) . 

aperire  vias:    Ep.  90,  27    (sapientia,  subject). 

ascendere:  Ep.  21,  2  ex  hac  vita  ad  illam  ascenditur.  Ep.  73,  15  (di) 
ascendentibus  manum  porrigunt.  Ep.  79,  8  hoc  habet  boni  sapientia: 
nemo  ab  altero  potest  vinci,  nisi  dum  ascenditur.  Ep.  83,  4  (Seneca  is 
comparing  himself  with  his  young  progymnastes)  cito  magnum  intervallum 
fit  inter  duos  in  diversum  euntes.  Eodem  tempore  ille  ascendit,  ego  de- 
scendo,  nee  ignoras,  quanto  ex  his  velocius  alterum  fiat.  Mentitus  sum. 
lam  enim  aetas  nostra  non  descendit,  sed  cadit.  Ep.  92,  30  nemo  inprobe 
eo  conatur  ascendere,  unde  descenderat. 


Travelling  (by  Land)  115 

circuitus:  Ep.  81,  19  bonum  exemplum  circuitu  ad  facientem  revertitur. 

circuinire:  Ep.  88,  28  singulas  lubet  circumire  virtutes;  cf.  our  phrase 
*  run  through,'  i.  e.,  'examine  the  list  of.'  I  find  no  other  instances  of 
the  verb  used  in  this  way. 

coire:    Ep.   74,  28    (virtus)    in  angustias   domus  vel  anguli  coit. 

comes:  Ep.  97,  10  ad  deteriora  faciles  sumus,  quia  nee  dux  potest  nee 
comes  deesse. 

comitari:  Ep.  66,  44  bona  .  .  .  virtutem  rationemque  comitantur.  Ep. 
77,  13  quantus  te  populus  moriturorum  sequetur?  Quantus  comitabitur? 
Ep.  107,  9  deum  .  .  .  sine  murmuratione  comitari. 

coinitatus:  Ep.  7,  6  vitiorum  tarn  magno  comitatu  venientium.  Ep.  67, 
10  virtutum.  Ep.  90,  3  virtutum  consertarum  et  inter  se  cohaerentium. 
Ep.  99,  7  generis  humani  eodem  tendentis.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  6,  10,  4. 

commeare:  Ep.  84,  2  invicem  hoc  et  illo  (i.  e.,  between  reading  and 
writing )  commeandum  est. 

commorari:  Ep.  117,  18  nobis  in  ipsa   (sc.  sapientia)   commorandum  est. 

compendiaria  (conp-),  sc.  via:  Ep.  27,  6  ('a  short-cut'  to  a  reputation 
for  learning).  Ep.  119,  1  (ad  maximas  divitias).  Cf.  Cic.  Off.  2,  12,  43 
(&TT.  Xe7. )  Socrates  hanc  viam  ad  gloriam  proximam  et  quasi  compendi- 
ariam  dicebat  esse,  and  Val.  Max.  7,  2,  ext.  1,  quoting  the  same  saying 
of  Socrates.  The  only  other  authors  cited  by  Lexx.  are  Varro  ap.  Non. 
p.  202,  5  M.  (=Vol.  1,  p.  297,  Lindsay)  (ad  voluptatem)  ;  Petronius,  2 
(artis)  ;  and  Pliny,  N.  H.  35,  110  breviores  .  .  .  quasdam  picturae  con- 
pendiarias  invenit. 

compendiarium,  sc.  iter:  Ep.  73,  12  te  in  caelum  compendiario  voco. 
The  Lexx.  give  no  other  example. 

concurrere:  Ep.  11,  2  labra  concurrunt.  Ep.  98,  9  bonis,  ad  quae  con- 
curritur. 

concursatio:  Ep.  3,  5  ilia  tumultu  gaudens  non  est  industria,  sed  exagi- 
tatae  mentis  concursatio.  Ep.  17,  9  concursationesque  ad  divitias  euntium. 

conscendere:  Ep.  84,  13  si  conscendere  hunc  verticem  libet,  cui  se  fortuna 
summisit. 

consectatio:  Ep.  88,  37  liberalium  artium.  H.  Lex.  says  this  word  is 
very  rare,  and  perhaps  found  only  in  Cic.  Or.  49,  165  (where  confectio 
is  also  read)  and  Pliny,  N.  H.  14,  70  (with  the  meaning  'an  enumera- 
tion'). This  example  from  Seneca  should  be  added. 

consequi:  Ep.  93,  12  mors  per  omnes  it:  qui  occidit,  consequitur  occisum. 
Ep.  94,  50  (summam  felicitatis  humanae). 

contender  e:   Ep.  75,   16  ad  virtutem. 

currere:  Ep.  34,  2  iam  currentem  hortor;  cf.  109,  6.  These  examples 
should  be  added  to  those  given  by  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  102  f.,  as  noted 
by  Sutphen  in  A.  J.  P.  xxn  (1901),  1,  p.  28,  q.  v.  Ep.  40,  3  (describing 
the  literary  style  suitable  for  a  philosopher)  aeque  stillare  ilium  nolo  quam 
currere.  The  specific  metaphor  in  this  case  is  evidently  from  the  flow 
of  a  liquid,  but  cf.  Cic.  Fin.  5,  28,  84  proclivi  currit  oratio.  Venit  ad 
extremum;  haeret  in  salebra;  and  Quint.  9,  4,  91  (syllabae  breves)  si 
miscentur  quibusdam  longis  currunt,  si  continuantur,  exsultant.  The  only 


116  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

examples  of  currere  used  of  liquids  which  are  given  by  Lexx.  are  Verg. 
A.  1,  607  (fluvii);  id.  A.  12,  524  (amnes)  ;  Ov.  M.  8,  597  (amnes;  add 
M.  8,  558  flumina;  Tr.  5,  11,  28  rivus;  F.  2,  84  aquae) ;  Auct.  Bell.  Hisp. 
29  (rivus).  Add  Sen.  Ep.  90,  43  fontes  rivique  .  .  .  sponte  currentes. 
Ep.  71,  13  quaecumque  supra  nos  vides  currere.  Ep.  90,  9  serra  per 
designata  currente.  Ep.  99,  7  per  quod  (sc'.  spatium  temporis)  citatissimi 
currimus.  Ep.  121,  22  (the  threads  of  a  spider's  web)  in  orbem  currentia. 

cursus:  Ep.  8,  4  in  praecipitia  cursus  iste  deducit.  Ep.  12,  9  quern 
dederat  cursum  fortuna,  peregi.  Ep.  17,  1  ad  bonam  mentem  magno  cursu 
.  .  .  tende.  Ep.  22,  4  felicitatem  cursu  sequi.  Ep.  93,  1  in  medio  cursu 
raptus.  Ep.  95,  45  ad  aliquod  sidus  derigendus  est  cursus.  Ep.  100,  2 
(of  the  literary  style  of  Fabianus)  non  sine  cursu  tamen  veniens.  Ep.  107, 
10  operis.  Ep.  115,  17  (felicitas)  cursu  venit.  Ep.  120,  11  beata  vita 
secundo  defluens  cursu. 

decurrere:    Ep.   123,   10  vita  decurrit. 

deflectere:  Ep.  114,  10    (animus  verba). 

derigere:  Ep.  84,  12  (see  praeterire).  Ep.  90,  34  vitae  legem,  quam  ad 
universa  derexit  (sapiens). 

descendere:  Ep.  5,  3  argentum,  in  quo  solidi  auri  caelatura  descenderit. 
Ep.  15,  8  vox  .  .  .  descendat,  non  decidat.  Ep.  18,  11  (ad  id,  quod  non 
timendum  est).  Ep.  22,  4  negotiis,  in  quae  descendisti,  vel  .  .  .  incidisti. 
Ep.  36,  11  videbis  nihil  in  hoc  mundo  extingui,  sed  vicibus  descendere  ac 
surgere.  Ep.  40,  4  (oratio  in  nos).  Ep.  45,  7  (adulatio  in  praecordia 
ima).  Ep.  48,  11  ad  grammaticorum  elementa.  Ep.  53,  9  cui  advocatus 
.  .  .  descenderes.  Ep.  79,  2  montis  altitude.  Ep.  83,  4  (see  ascendere). 
Ep.  92,  30  (see  ascendere}.  Ep.  94,  2  (pars  philosophiae  in  pectus).  Ep. 
94,  40  (conversatio  in  pectora).  Ep.  117,  6  nostros  iudico  in  hoc  descen- 
dere. Ep.  120,  2  (bonum)  apud  illos  .  .  .  adeo  in  sordida  usque  descendit. 
Ep.  123,  14  (see  sulire). 

desinere:  Ep.  70,  5  sed  cum  primum  illi  (sc.  sapienti)  coepit  suspecta 
esse  fortuna,  diligenter  circumspicit,  numquid  illo  desinendum  sit.  For 
suggested  emendations,  see  Hense's  ap.  crit. 

detorquere:  Ep.  32,  2  habeo  quidem  fiduciam  non  posse  te  detorqueri 
mansurumque  in  proposito. 

deversorium:  Ep.  51,  3  vitiorum.  Ep.  89,  21  deversoria  luxuriae.  Ep. 
108,  6  cui  philosophi  schola  deversorium  otii  sit. 

devia:  Ep.  49,  12  si  me  nolueris  per  devia  (i.  e.,  sophistical  quibbles) 
ducere,  facilius  ad  id,  quo  tendo,  perveniam. 

discedere:  Ep.  48,  4  (see  accedere).  Ep.  48,  11  ab  ingentibus  promissis. 
Ep.  49,  1  cum  maxime  a  te  discedo.  Ep.  78,  18  a  dolore.  Ep.  91,  16 
"  discede,"  inquit,  "  ambitio."  Ep.  95,  32  (a  f rugalitate ) .  Ep.  99,  17  a 
natura.  Ep.  122,  5  (see  afore). 

discurrere:  Ep.  13,  13  maiorem  partem  mortalium  .  .  .  aestuare  ac  dis- 
currere.  Ep.  84,  11  ista  ...  ad  quae  discurritur.  Ep.  90,  36  avaritia 
atque  luxuria  ...  ad  rapinam  ex  consortio  discurrere  (but  see  Hense's 
ap.  crit.  and  cf.  E.  BADSTUEBNEB,  "  Beitrage  zur  Erklarung  und  Kritik 
der  philos.  Schriften  Senecas,"  Progr.,  Hamburg,  1901,  p.  23). 


Travelling  (by  Land)  117 

discursus:  Ep.  36,  11  stellarum;  also,  117,  19.  The  only  authors  cited 
by  Lexx.  for  the  use  of  this  word  in  connection  with  inanimate  objects  are 
Valerius  Maximus,  Lucan,  and  the  elder  Pliny. 

disicere:  Ep.  48,  8  disiectis  et  errantibus  clarum  veritatis  lumen 
ostendas. 

ducere:  Ep.  30,  4  quern  senectus  ducit  ad  mortem.  Ep.  49,  12  (see 
devia).  Ep.  77,  15  (see  sequi).  Ep.  90,  27  (sapientia,  subject).  Ep. 
90,  42  mundus  .  .  .  silentio  tantum  opus  ducens.  Ep.  94,  43  (veritas, 
subject).  Ep.  94,  66  Marius  exercitus,  Marium  ambitio  ducebat.  Ep.  98, 
2  (animus,  subject).  Ep.  104,  17  fers  ilia  (i.  e.,  mala  tua),  non  ducis. 
Ep.  109,  16  egregium  opus  pari  iugo  ducet  (sapiens).  Ep.  114,  1  (of 
literary  style)  infracta  et  in  morem  cantici  ducta.  Cf.  abducere,  adducere, 
educere,  inducere,  perducere,  reducere,  and  seducere. 

ductus  (subst.):  Ep.  47,  6  alius  pretiosas  aves  scindit:  per  pectus  et 
clunes  certis  ductibus  circumferens  eruditam  manum. 

dux:  Ep.  33,  11  qui  ante  nos  ista  moverunt,  non  domini  nostri,  sed  duces 
sunt.  Ep.  52,  4  non  duce  tantum  opus  sit,  sed  adiutore.  Ep.  65,  23  (see 
rector).  Ep.  97,  10  (see  comes). 

educere:  Ep.  66,  40  valetudo  ...  in  tutum  .  .  .  educta.  Ep.  79,  10 
ad  hanc  (sc.  virtutem)  nos  conemur  educere.  Ep.  92,  22  quern  tarn  multa 
mala  .  .  .  ne  ex  beata  quidem  (vita)  educunt.  Ep.  95,  37  in  bonum  pro- 
nos  .  .  .  educit  ad  summa.  Ep.  102,  27  (dies,  subject).  Ep.  104,  13  nulla 
denique  animo  mala  eduxit  ( peregrinatio ) .  Ep.  122,  3  totum  perversae 
vigiliae  tempus  educant.  The  examples  given  by  Lexx.  for  educere  with 
words  of  time,  in  the  sense  '  pass,  spend,'  are  all  poetic,  being  from  Pro- 
pertius,  Statius,  Silius  Italicus,  and  Valerius  Flaccus. 

egredi:   Ep.  114,  1  sensus  .  .  .  fidem  egressi.     See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  495  f. 

emetiri:  Ep.  93,  7  (aevum,  object).  Ep.  99,  7  cum  idem  tibi  iter  emeti- 
endum  sit. 

errare:  Ep.  30,  8  errantem  gladium.  Ep.  48,  8  (see  disicere).  Ep.  94, 
51  (see  pervenvre)  ;  similarly,  94,  54.  Ep.  94,  53  longinqua  bona  et  in- 
certa  et  errantia.  Ep.  114,  4  eloquentiam  ebrii  hominis  involutam  et 
errantem. 

evagari:  Ep.  88,  3  grammaticus  ...  si  latius  evagari  vult.  Ep.  117,  19 
etiam  si  quid  evagari  libet,  amplos  habet  ilia  (sc.  sapientia)  spatiososque 
secessus. 

evagatio:   Ep.  65,  16    (animi). 

evehi:   Ep.  93,  4  in  summum  bonum  .  .  .  evectum. 

excedere:    Ep.   93,   10    (of  death). 

excurrere:  Ep.  92,  25  supra  humanam  naturam  excurrentia.  Ep.  109, 
3  (animus,  subject).  Ep.  114,  9  in  laxitatem  ruris  excurrant  (domus). 

exire:  Ep.  18,  13  (opes,  subject).  Ep.  20,  13  exit  in  lucem  (=='ic 
born').  Ep.  49,  1  (adfectus,  subject).  Ep.  50,  9  (virtutes,  subject). 
Ep.  74,  21  per  metus  ipsos  et  pericula  exibit  (ratio).  Ep.  88,  1  (studium) 
quod  ad  aes  exit.  Ep.  91,  6  incrementa  lente  exeunt.  Ep.  91,  15  (addressed 
to  one  who  complains  of  the  laws  of  the  universe)  non  placet:  quacumque 
vis,  exi.  Ep.  92,  34  (of  the  departure  of  the  mind  from  the  body).  Ep. 


118  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

93,  3  (of  death)  ;  similarly,  93,  10  (strengthened  by  tier)  ;  and  98,  16. 
Ep.  95,  39  aliqua  .  .  .  exibunt  recta.  Ep.  98,  1  (see  adventicius) .  Ep. 
100,  11  nee  omne  verbum  excitabit  ac  punget,  fateor.  Exibunt  multa  nee 
ferient.  Ep.  101,  5  per  manus.  Ep.  114,  8  (sensus,  subject). 

exitus:  Ep.  22,  12  numquam  exitum  invenies  (referring  to  withdrawal 
from  public  life).  Ep.  99,  9  (of  death)  ;  similarly,  117,  23;  cf.  Sen.  Dial. 
1,  6,  7  and  Phoen.  153.  Ep.  120,  22  qualem  institueris  praestare  te,  talem 
usque  ad  exitum  serves.  Here,  however,  it  is  really  a  dramatic  term;  cf. 
under  agere  on  p.  73. 

festinare:   Ep.  91,  6  festinatur  in  damnum. 

gradus:  Ep.  20,  2  nee  hoc  dico,  sapientem  uno  semper  iturum  gradu, 
sed  una  via. 

impedire  (inp-)  :  Ep.  22,  4.  Ep.  32,  2.  Ep.  80,  1  (see  procedere).  Ep. 
85,  5  (mala,  subject).  Ep.  95,  8  multa  illas  (sc.  artes)  .  .  .  inpediunt. 
Ep.  115,  7  (divitiarum  splendor,  subject).  Cf.  inpedimentum. 

incedere:  Ep.  76,  21  virtus  .  .  .  superba  incedit. 

incessus:   Ep.  94,  56  tardos  siderum  incessus. 

incurrere:  Ep.  37,  5  fortuna  in  nos  incurrit.  Ep.  87,  17  nihil  ex  istis 
quolibet  incurrentibus  bonum  iudicat  ( virtus ) . 

inducere:  Ep.  92,  32  (animum)  in  possessionem  rerum  naturae  inducere. 
Ep.  93,  9  quae  causa  inducat  noctem,  quae  reducat  diem.  Ep.  94,  68  indu- 
cenda  est  in  occupatum  locum  virtus.  Ep.  Ill,  5  animum  specie  suptilitatis 
inductum.  Ep.  114,  17  haec  vitia  unus  aliquis  inducit. 

ingredi:  In  Ep.  95,  70  the  phrase  altius  ingredi  is  borrowed  from  the 
description  of  a  colt  in  Verg.  G.  3,  75-85  and  applied  to  Cato  of  Utica, 
as  part  of  an  extended  comparison  in  sectt.  68-71,  of  this  letter. 

impedimentum  (-a)  :  Ep.  53,  9  omnia  inpedimenta  dimitte  et  vaca  bonae 
menti.  Ep.  92,  10  quies  nihil  quidem  ipsa  praestabat  animo,  sed  inpedi- 
menta removebat.  Ep.  95,  8  (ars  vitae)  discutit  enim  inpedimenta.  Seneca 
has  used  inpediunt  three  lines  before.  Ep.  115,  6  aciem  animi  liberare 
inpedimentis. 

invia:   Ep.   73,  4  praeceptores  .  .  .  quorum  beneficio  illis  inviis  exiit. 

ire:  Ep.  17,  9  (see  concursatio ) .  Ep.  30,  10  ad  hanc  (sc.  mortem)  itur. 
Ep.  37,  5  turpe  est  non  ire,  sed  ferri.  Ep.  41,  1  ad  bonam  mentem.  Ep. 
48,  4  (see  accedere).  Ep.  48,  10  ad  summum  bonum  itur?  Ep.  50,  9 
(ad  virtutes).  Ep.  52,  7  imus  per  obstantia.  Ep.  66,  7  nee  virtuti  ire 
retro  licet.  Ep.  66,  35  unitas  vitae  per  rectum  itura.  Ep.  71,  35,  twice. 
Ep.  77,  12  eo  ibis,  quo  omnia  eunt.  The  metaphor  is  vivified  by  sequetur 
and  comitabitur  in  the  next  section.  Ep.  77,  13  (see  pervenire) .  Ep.  79, 
13.  Ep.  79,  16  (see  vestigia).  Ep.  80,  1  (see  procedere).  Ep.  82,  1. 
Ep.  83,  4  (see  ascendere).  Ep.  92,  31  in  caelum.  Ep.  93,  12  mors  per 
omnes  it.  Ep.  95,  38  ut  ad  praecepta  .  .  .  possit  animus  ire.  Ep.  102,  1. 
Ep.  121,  14  voluptates  ituras  in  dolorem. 

iter:  Ep.  6,  5  longum  iter  est  per  praecepta.  Ep.  8,  3.  Ep.  31,  9  (the 
passage  involves  an  implied  comparison  between  Lucilius's  journey  to  his 
province,  and  the  *  route  to  wisdom').  Ep.  44,  7  (see  sarcina).  Ep.  73, 
15.  Ep.  90,  43  (of  a  water-course).  Ep.  92,  31.  Ep.  93,  10  ad  deos. 


Travelling  (by  Land)  119 

Ep.  99,  7   (in  quite  a  long  description  of  the  'journey  of  life')  ;  similarly, 
Ep.  107,  2.     Ep.  99,  12. 

limes:  Ep.  123,  12  quanto  satius  est  rectum  sequi  limitem. 
obire:  Ep.  89,  2    (animus  philosophiam)   velociter  obit;   like  our  phrase 
'runs  over';   cf.  Verg.  A.  10,  447    (omnia  visu)    and  Pliny,  Ep.   3,  7,  13 
( exercitum  oculis ) . 

obvius:  Ep.  7,  5  ictus  .  .  .  obviis  pectoribus  excipiant;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed. 
407  armis  obvium  opponam  caput,  and  Oed.  90  f.  adversus  ...  |  ... 
Gigantas  obvias  ferrem  manus. 

occurrere:  Ep.  55,  7  (villa  Vatiae)  occurrit  .  .  .  Favonio.  Ep.  68,  7. 
Ep.  94,  20  frigoris  in  os  occurrentis.  Ep.  102,  5  and  116,  7,  in  the  sense 
'reply  to';  cf.  Quint.  1,  5,  36;  Val.  Fl.  7,  222;  and,  in  passive  impersonal 
construction,  Cic.  Ac.  2,  14,  44  and  Off.  2,  2,  7.  Ep.  110,  17  (quoted 
from  Attains;  domus,  subject).  Ep.  120,  4  incidisse  .  .  .  occucurrisse. 

occursus:    Ep.   124,   17   praesentium  occursu. 

percurrere:  Ep.  74,  33  horror  membra  percurrens.  The  only  similar 
example  given  by  Lexx.  is  Curt.  4,  12,  14  pectora  .  .  .  metu  percurrente. 

perducere:  Ep.  52,  6  (se  ad  sapientiam).  Ep.  88,  20  liberales  artes  non 
perducunt  animum  ad  virtutem.  Ep.  90,  46  animo  ...  ad  summum  .  .  . 
perducto.  Ep.  94,  50  (sapientia  animum).  Ep.  95,  4  (ad  actiones  rectas; 
subject,  praecepta).  Ep.  95,  35  ad  beatam  vitam.  Ep.  95,  40  (ad  virtu- 
tem; subject,  praecepta).  Ep.  99,  22  fortuna  non  .  .  .  perducit  ad  senec- 
tutem.  Ep.  120,  10  more  eo  perductus.  Ep.  123,  12. 

peregrinatio :  Ep.  90,  39,  of  a  rich  man  walking  through  his  own 
extensive  lands.  The  hyperbole  may  include  a  reminiscence  of  the  etymo- 
logical meaning  of  the  word. 

peregrinus:  Ep.  120,  18  animus  .  .  .  peregrinus  et  properans. 

pergere:  Ep.  108,  17   (see  accedere). 

pervenire:  Ep.  17,  7  (see  viaticum).  Ep.  21,  1  (ad  f elicitatem ) .  Ep. 
23,  2  ad  summa.  Ep.  27,  4  (ad  gaudium).  Ep.  49,  12  (see  devia).  Ep. 
53,  9  (ad  bonam  mentem).  Ep.  74,  11  (ad  bonum).  Ep.  77,  13  ad  id 
perventurum,  ad  quod  semper  ibas.  Ep.  80,  4  ad  libertatem.  Ep.  82,  18 
(ad  bona).  Ep.  88,  31  (ad  virtutem);  twice.  Ep.  89,  4  haec  (i.  e., 
philosophia)  eo  tendit,  quo  ilia  (i.  e.,  scientia)  pervenit.  Ep.  92,  27  (see 
accedere).  Ep.  93,  8  (ad  sapientiam).  Ep.  94,  51  interim  errabit  et 
errando  inpedietur,  quo  minus  ad  illud  perveniat,  quo  possit  se  esse  con- 
tentus.  Ep.  95,  36  in  ea,  quae  tradi  solent.  Ep.  95,  58  ad  verum  .  .  . 
non  pervenitur.  Ep.  113,  26  ad  virtutes.  Ep.  118,  6  (ad  excelsa).  Ep. 
120,  18  (see  accedere).  Ep.  124,  8  (ad  bonum  ...  ad  rationem).  Ep. 
124,  12  (ad  bonum;  senectus,  subject). 

pervius:   Ep.   102,  22  cogitationi  pervium  tempus. 

praecedere:   Ep.  93,  12  non  maiore  spatio  alter  alterum  praecedimus. 

praecurrere:  Ep.  45,  13  nos  vita  praecurreret.  Ep.  74,  33  in  corporibus 
.  .  .  languoris  signa  praecurrunt.  Ep.  123,  10  mortem  praecurre. 

praeire:  Ep.  94,  50  inbecillioribus  quidem  ingeniis  necessarium  est  ali- 
quern  praeire. 

praetervehi:  Ep.  93,  7  ut  agam,  non  ut  praetervehar. 


120  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

praeterire:  Ep.  84,  12  praeteri  istos  gradus  divitum  .  .  .  Hue  potius  te 
ad  sapientiam  derige. 

procedere:  Ep.  71,  28  ad  summa.  Ep.  72,  6  sapientiae  .  .  .  procedentis. 
Ep.  80,  1  nemo  cogitationem  meam  impediet,  quae  hac  ipsa  fiducia  procedit 
audacius  .  .  .  licebit  tuto  vadere,  quod  magis  necessarium  est  per  se  eunti 
et  suam  sequent!  viam.  Non  ergo  sequor  priores?  Facio,  sed  permitto 
mihi  et  invenire  aliquid  et  mutare  et  relinquere.  Ep.  97,  10  res  ipsa 
etiam  sine  duce,  sine  comite  procedit.  Ep.  116,  3  (adfectus,  subject). 
Ep.  119,  8. 

processus:  Ep.  95,  14  artes,  quarum  in  processu  subtilitas  crevit.  Ep. 
101,  6  proponimus  .  .  .  procurationes  officiorumque  per  officia  processus. 
Ep.  115,  17  queruntur  .  .  .  de  processibus  suis.  The  plural  of  this  word 
is  employed  more  often  than  the  singular,  and  usually  in  a  tropical  sense; 
cf.  Cic.  Brut.  65,  232  gradus  tuos  et  quasi  processus  dicendi  studeo  co- 
gnoscere;  id.  ib.  72,  272  tantos  processus  efficiebat,  ut  evolare,  non  excurrere 
videretur;  id.  Orat.  62,  210  iam  favet  processumque  vult — which  are  the 
only  examples  I  have  found  in  Cicero,  and  Meusel  shows  none  for  Caesar. 
It  is  plural  in  Sen.  Dial.  9,  2,  11  and  11,  9,  4. 

procurrere:  Ep.  66,  21  ad  omne  pulchrum.  Ep.  71,  30  ad  omnes  casus. 
Ep.  101,  4  in  ipso  procurrentis  pecuniae  impetu;  which  probably  involves 
the  idea  of  a  stream. 

prodire:  Ep.  71,  35  inperfecta  necesse  est  labent  et  modo  prodeant,  modo 
sublabantur.  Ep.  83,  20  omne  vitium  laxatur  et  prodit.  Ep.  90,  25  (in- 
venta,  subject).  Ep.  97,  12  bona  conscientia  prodire  vult. 

profectus  (subst.)  :  Ep.  11,  1;  20,  1;  33,  7;  71,  35;  72,  9;  79,  14;  95, 
36  magnosque  profectus  adsecuti  sunt  (the  rare  plural  is  to  be  noted)  ; 
100,  11;  108,  6;  124,  1.  See  Antib.7,  n,  p.  391. 

proficere:  Ep.  Ill,  4  ludit  istis  (sc.  cavillationibus )  animus,  non  proficit. 
Ep.  123,  8  horum  sermo  multum  nocet.  Nam  etiam  si  non  statim  profecit, 
semina  in  animo  relinquit  sequiturque  nos.  The  following  examples  are 
in  the  present  participle:  Ep.  35,  4;  71,  30;  75,  8  (also,  the  pres.  indie.); 
75,  10;  75,  12;  82,  9;  109,  15. 

proficisci:  Ep.  94,  50  (see  under  via).  Ep.  95,  48  (humanum  genus, 
subject) . 

properare:  Ep.  32,  3  propera  ergo,  Lucili.  In  the  context  occur  celeritati, 
instaret,  adventare,  fugientium,  accelera,  evade.  Ep.  35,  4  propera  ad  me, 
sed  ad  te  prius.  Ep.  117,  30.  In  all  of  the  following  examples  the  present 
participle  is  used:  Ep.  22,  3  (occasio)  ;  89,  1  (ad  sapientiam)  ;  91,  6 
(mala)  ;  94,  56  (mundus)  ;  120,  18  (see  peregrinus)  ;  124,  21  moratur  ad 
prava  properantes. 

prosequi:  Ep.  78,  23  cenam  culina  prosequitur.  Ep.  98,  I  (gaudium, 
subject)  ad  extremum  usque  prosequitur.  Ep.  123,  9  (sonus.  subject). 
See  also  under  "Life,  Death,  Burial,"  p.  38. 

recedere:  Ep.  7,  8  recede  in  te  ipsum.  Ep.  22,  9  ab  his  (i.  e.,  pretiis 
occupationum)  .  .  .  inviti  homines  recedunt.  Ep.  74,  29  si  (virtus)  in 
se  recessit.  Ep.  85,  16  animo  recedente.  Ep.  88,  42  quantum  ab  usu  rece- 
dentis  (gen.  sing.  neut.).  Ep.  90,  3  ab  hac  (i.  e.,  philosophia)  numquam 


Travelling  (by  Land)  121 

recedit  religio.  Ep.  90,  17  loca,  quae  ...  in  specum  recesserunt.  Ep.  90, 
19  recessit  .  .  .  ille  naturalis  modus.  Ep.  92,  3  voluntas  .  .  .  intenta 
ration!  nee  umquam  ab  ilia  recedens.  Ep.  99,  32  a  te  recessisti.  Ep.  103, 
4  in  philosophiam.  Ep.  116,  6  quantum  possumus,  nos  a  lubrico  rece- 
damus.  Ep.  117,  19  ista  iam  a  formatione  morum  recesserunt.  Ep.  123, 
13  ab  imitantibus  recedamus. 

rector:  Ep.  65,  23  deus  ista  (i.  e.,  the  universe)  temperat,  quae  circum- 
fusa  rectorem  secuntur  et  ducem.  Ep.  85,  38  bonorum  rector  est,  malorum 
victor.  Ep.  90,  4  (hominum). 

rectrix:   Ep.  85,  32    (sapientia). 

recurrere:   Ep.   123,  9    (sonus,  subject). 

redire:  Ep.  90,  29  (sapientia)  ad  initia  .  .  .  rerum  redit.  Ep.  94,  7 
(mors)  ad  neminem  redit. 

reducere:  Ep.  36,  10  nos  in  lucem  .  .  .  dies  .  .  .  reduceret.  Ep.  50,  5 
ad  haturam.  Ep.  56,  12  ingenium  .  .  .  nee  sese  adhuc  reduxit  introrsus. 
Ep.  93,  9  (see  inducere).  Ep.  94,  26  ad  memoriam  reducendus  es.  Ep. 
95,  32  animus  ad  frugalitatem  .  .  .  reducendus. 

regere:  Ep.  94,  51,  in  connection  with  via.  For  use  in  the  sense  'rule, 
govern,'  see  p.  137. 

resistere,  'stop':  Ep.  74,  11  (voluntas,  subject).  Ep.  83,  17  citra  ebrie- 
tatem  resistit. 

reverti:  Ep.  81,  19  (see  circuitus).  Ep.  99,  12  melius  se  habere  eum, 
cui  cito  reverti  ('die')  licet.  Ep.  99,  23  (memoria)  ad  te  saepius  rever- 
tetur.  Ep.  104,  4  ingentis  animi  est  aliena  causa  ad  vitam  reverti. 

ruere:  Ep.  40,  5  verborum  .  .  .  ruentium  strepitus.  Ep.  89,  15  ad 
agenda  ire,  non  ruere.  Ep.  91,  7  regna  .  .  .  inpellente  nullo  ruunt. 

salebra:  Ep.  114,  15  (of  literary  composition)  nolunt  sine  salebra  esse 
iuncturam.  Seneca  uses  the  word  in  a  literal  sense  in  N.  Q.  6,  22,  1. 
The  only  instances  of  its  application  to  language  given  by  Lexx.  are  Cic. 
Fin.  2,  10,  30  and  5,  28,  84,  and  Or.  12,  39  (which  are  the  only  examples 
for  Cicero  shown  by  Merguet,  and  Meusel  gives  no  instances  for  Caesar)  ; 
Mart.  11,  90,  1  f.  carmina  nulla  probas,  molli  quae  limite  currunt,  |  sed 
quae  per  salebras,  altaque  saxa  cadunt.  Cf.  also  Val.  Max.  9,  12,  ext.  6 
senile  guttur  salebris  spiritus  gravavit. 

salebrosus:  Ep.  100,  7  (compositio)  Asinii  salebrosa  et  exiliens.  See 
Antib.7,  n,  p.  528. 

sarcina:  Ep.  15,  2  maiore  corporis  sarcina  animus  eliditur.  Ep.  22,  13 
alienas  sarcinas.  Ep.  25,  4  sarcinas  contrahe.  Ep.  44,  7  sollicitudinis 
colligunt  causas  et  per  insidiosum  iter  vitae  non  tantum  ferunt  sarcinas, 
sed  trahunt.  Ep.  65,  16  (animus)  gravi  sarcina  pressus.  Ep.  102,  24,  of 
the  body,  as  a  burden  to  be  laid  aside  at  death.  The  metaphor  is  skillfully 
developed  through  the  next  two  sections. 

scrupulus:   Ep.  13,   13  statim  in  timorem  vertit  scrupulus. 

secedere:  Ep.  67,  12  ab  opinionibus  volgi.     Ep.  117,  4. 

sectari:  Ep.  6,  5  dum  passim  profutura  sectaris.  Ep.  124,  1  tarn  magna 
sectari.  In  a  tropical  sense  this  verb  is  given  only  once  for  Caesar,  by 
Meusel,  (B.  G.  6,  35,  8;  praedam,  object);  and  not  at  all  for  Cicero  by 


122  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Merguet,  although  there  are  several  instances  of  its  literal  use  by  him. 
Most  of  the  examples  of  its  tropical  use  given  by  Lexx.  are  post- Augustan. 

seducere:    Ep.  90,  38  avaritia  .  .  .  seducere   aliquid  cupit. 

sequi:  Ep.  19,  4  sequetur,  quocumque  fugeris,  multum  pristinae  lucis. 
Ep.  49,  9  mors  me  sequitur.  Ep.  50,  4  (animi,  subject).  Ep.  65,  23  (see 
rector).  Ep.  77,  13  (see  comitari).  Ep.  77,  15  puta  nolle  te  sequi:  du- 
ceris.  Ep.  79,  18  (virtutem).  Ep.  80,  1  (see  procedere).  Ep.  87,  7 
(supcllex,  subject).  Ep.  90,  4  naturam;  also,  90,  16;  90,  34;  98,  14.  Ep. 
97,  14  (poenae,  subject)  Ep.  98,  4  rerumque  casum  sequentium.  Ep.  99, 
6  quos  amisimus,  sequimur.  Ep.  104,  17  mala  te  tua  sequuntur.  Ep.  104, 
23  mundo,  quern  quantum  mortalium  passibus  licet,  sequitur  aemulaturque. 
Ep.  106,  1.  Ep.  118,  17.  Ep.  123,  8  (sonus,  subject). 

sternere  viam:   Ep.  88,  3  quid  horum  ad  virtutem  viam  sternit? 

supergredi:    Ep.  32,  5  necessitates  supergressus  est. 

subducere:  Ep.  1,  1  quaedam  (sc.  tempera)  subducuntur.  Ep.  7,  6  sub- 
ducendus  populo  est  tener  animus.  Ep.  19,  1  subdue  te  istis  occupationibus. 
Ep.  26,  4  lenis  haec  est  via,  subduci  (sc.  e  vita).  Ep.  30,  12  non  repente 
avulsum  vitae,  sed  minutatim  subductum.  Ep.  58,  5  aliqua  (sc.  verba) 
nobis  subducta  sunt.  Ep.  74,  28  si  (virtus)  ...  ex  regio  in  humile  sub- 
ducitur.  Ep.  82,  4  in  altum  subducta  vitae  quies.  Ep.  97,  12  omnes  pec- 
cata  .  .  .  ipsa  subducunt.  Ep.  102,  28  subdue  te  voluptati;  but  the  text 
is  doubtful  (see  Hense's  ap.  crit.).  Ep.  104,  12  ipsi  nobis  furto  subdu- 
cimur.  Ep.  119,  11  ille,  quern  nos  et  populo  et  fortunae  subduximus. 

subire:  Ep.  74,  23  debilitas  pro  ilia  (sc.  velocitate)  subit.  Ep.  120,  19 
quidni  subiret  nos  species  non  usitatae  indolis?  Ep.  123,  14  in  voluptates 
descenditur,  in  aspera  et  dura  subeundum  est. 

tenderer  Ep.  49,  12  (see  devia) .  Ep.  81,  20  ad  honestum  consilium  per 
mediam  infamiam  tendam.  Ep.  89,  4  (see  pervenire).  Ep.  90,  27  ad 
beatum  statum  tendit  (sapientia).  Ep.  99,  7,  in  a  description  of  'the 
journey  of  life.'  Ep.  118,  9  animi  tendentis  (ad  bonum). 

tenor:  Ep.  46,  2  (of  the  style  of  Lucilius's  book)  non  fuit  impetus,  sed 
tenor;  cf.  Ep.  23,  7  ex  placido  vitae  et  continue  tenore  unam  prementis 
viam. 

trames:  Ep.  84,  13  quaecumque  videntur  eminere  in  rebus  humanis  .  .  . 
per  difficiles  tamen  et  arduos  tramites  adeuntur.  The  whole  context  is  a 
beautiful  metaphor  of  '  climbing  to  the  heights.' 

transcurrere :  Ep.  1,  3  (vita,  subject).  Ep.  117,  30  transcurramus  soller- 
tissimas  nugas. 

transire:  Ep.  35,  4  (sapiens)  commovetur  quidem,  non  tamen  transit. 
Ep.  36,  1.  Ep.  41,  5  animum  .  .  .  omnia  tamquam  minora  transeuntem. 
Ep.  54,  2  pericula  per  me  transierunt.  Ep.  91,  5  auxilia  securitatis  in 
metum  transeunt.  Ep.  93,  10  (of  death)  etiam  si  nusquam  transiturus 
excedo.  Ep.  94,  25.  Ep.  99,  9.  Ep.  99,  10  (of  passing  to  another  sub- 
ject). Ep.  99,  18  corpus  e  complexu  nostro  in  ignem  transiturum.  Ep. 
102,  2  (of  death)  ;  similarly,  102,  24.  Ep.  104,  21  ad  meliores  transi:  cum 
Catonibus  vive.  Ep.  113,  11  in  aliud  animal.  Ep.  114,  21  nolunt  facere 
quicquam,  quod  hominum  oculis  transire  liceat.  Ep.  118,  3  nihil  petere 
et  tota  fortunae  comitia  transire. 


Travelling  (by  Land)  123 

transitus:  Ep.  2,  3  nihil  tarn  utile  est,  ut  transitu  prosit.  Ep.  95,  36 
ingenium  .  .  .  salutaria  in  transitu  rapuit. 

vadere:  Ep.  80,  1  (see  procedere) .  Ep.  92,  31  (animus,  subject).  Ep. 
93,  9  (sidera,  subject).  Cf.  evadere  under  "General  Notions,"  p.  177. 

vagari:  Ep.  35,  4.  Ep.  71,  29  ne  extra  rerum  naturam  vagari  virtus 
nostra  videatur.  Ep.  88,  34  (animus)  emissus  vagetur  in  toto.  Ep.  94, 
1  ceteras  (partes  philosophiae)  quasi  extra  utilitatem  nostram  vagantes. 
Ep.  120,  1  epistula  tua  per  plures  quaestiunculas  vagata  est. 

vagus:  Ep.  2,  2  vide,  ne  ista  lectio  auctorum  multorum  .  .  .  habeat 
aliquid  vagum  et  instabile.  Ep.  23,  7  (of  people  who  are  continually 
changing  their  plans).  Ep.  32,  5  ( cogitationes ) .  Ep.  85,  7  (incon- 
stantia).  Ep.  95,  45  vita  sine  proposito  vaga  est;  but  the  context  shows 
that  the  metaphor  here  is  rather  from  travelling  by  sea. 

venire:  Ep.  70,  15  (of  birth).  Ep.  88,  29  (temperantia,  subject). 
Ep.  88,  32  veniri  ad  sapientiam.  Ep.  89,  6  ilia  (i.  e.,  philosophia)  venit,  ad 
hanc  (i.  e.,  sapientiam)  venitur.  This  is  Hense's  reading  for  "  itur." 
Ep.  99,  23  (memoria,  subject).  Ep.  100,  2  (oratio)  non  sine  cursu  .  .  . 
veniens. 

vestigia:  Ep.  33,  10  priorum.  Ep.  40,  1  litterae,  quae  vera  amici  ab- 
sentis  vestigia.  .  .  adferunt.  Ep.  79,  16  per  eadem  ire  vestigia. 

via:  Ep.  5,  2;  12,  10;  15,  8;  16,  9;  20,  2  (see  gradus)  ;  22,  3;  23,  7 
(see  tenor);  24,  2;  25,  1;  26,  4  (see  subducere)  ;  29,  12;  33,  11;  37,  4; 
62,  3;  66,  44;  70,  14;  70,  16;  74,  6;  77,  3  (see  viaticum]  ;  79,  2;  80, 
1  (see  procedere}  ;  84,  13;  88,  3;  90,  27;  91,  5;  91,  12;  92,  30;  94,  32;  94, 
50-51  (  a  well-sustained  metaphor  of  the  'road  to  wisdom');  94,  54;  98, 
14;  102,  20;  102,  28;  107,  2  (introducing  a  beautifully  detailed  description 
of  the  'journey  of  life');  109,  5;  113,  26;  114,  4;  117,  21,  117,  23; 
122,  9;  122,  19. 

viaticum:  Ep.  17,  7  licet  ad  philosophiam  etiam  sine  viatico  pervenire. 
Ep.  26,  8  huic  epistulae  viaticum  dandum  est.  Ep.  77,  3  plus  iam  mihi 
superesset  viatici  quam  viae;  cf.  Cic.  Sen.  18,  66. 

Comparisons :  Ep.  2,  2,  those  who  spend  their  lives  in  foreign 
TRAVEL  have  many  places  of  entertainment,  but  no  friendships ; 
the  same  must  befall  those  who,  in  their  reading,  do  not  attach 
themselves  intimately  to  some  one  man  of  genius;  Ep.  45,  1 
(reading  compared  to  travelling)  ;  Ep.  49,  1  '  it  is  the  man 
who  is  travelling  at  leisure  who  can  stop  to  attend  to  trifles; 
I  have  no  time  for  discussing  sophistic  subtleties.'  Ep.  77,  4 
(life  compared  to  a  JOURNEY;  inserted  in  a  group  of  corre- 
sponding metaphors)  ;  Ep.  120,  18  (the  last  day  of  life  com- 
pared to  the  last  step  in  a  tiresome  journey.  Ep.  55,  2  (a 
formal  comparison  of  a  beach  to  a  narrow  ROAD)  ;  Ep.  89,  8 


124  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

(the  way  to  virtue  contrasted  with  roads  to  cities)  ;  Ep.  96, 
3  (life  with  its  troubles  compared  to  a  road  with  dust,  mire, 
and  rain).  Ep.  107,  2  (the  troubles  of  life  compared  to  the 
annoyances  and  dangers  of  a  public  STREET).  Ep.  102,  24 
(the  circumstances  of  life  compared  to  LUGGAGE;  leading  to 
quite  an  extended  metaphor  in  sectt.  25-26).  Ep.  40,  14  (lan- 
guage compared  to  GAIT;  for  possible  word-play  in  oratio 
pressa,  cf.  H.  Lex.  s.  v.  premo  (pressus)  i.  A ;  B ;  n.  A)  ;  Ep. 
114,  3,  if  the  gait  is  affected  by  the  condition  of  the  soul, 
much  more  is  the  intellect  so  affected.  Ep.  40,  7  (rapid  speech 
compared  to  ETTNNING  down  a  slope). 

(d)    NAVIGATION 

That  Seneca  was  not  a  good  sailor  is  very  evident  from  the 
opening  sections  of  Ep.  53,  which  he  begins  with  the  sentence 
"  Quid  non  potest  mihi  persuaderi,  cui  persuasum  est  ut  navi- 
garem  ? "  and,  after  a  feeling  description  of  his  experiences 
during  a  storm  and  his  demand  of  the  pilot  "  ut  me  in  aliquo 
litore  exponeret,"  he  concludes  by  saying  (sect.  4)  that  he  fully 
understands  why  it  took  Ulysses  so  long  to  reach  Ithaca ;  "  et 
ego  quocumque  navigare  debuero,  vicensimo  anno  perveniam."  1 
In  spite  of  this,  however,  he  draws  quite  largely  upon  the  nau- 
tical sphere  for  illustrative  material,  especially  in  his  com- 
parisons, some  of  which  are  very  beautifully  worked  out.  The 
profession  of  the  pilot  seems  to  have  especially  impressed  his 
imagination,  for  11  of  the  26  comparisons  are  connected  with 
that  phase  of  the  sailor's  life.  O.  Schmidt,  in  his  dissertation 
on  metaphor  and  comparison  in  Lucian,  cited  on  p.  11,  calls 
attention  to  the  fact  that  nautical  figures  among  the  ancients 
were  especially  characteristic  of  poetry,  and  usually  had  a 
serious  or  even  tragic  tone.  Seneca's  examples  are : 

abscondere:    Ep.   70,   2    (in  connection  with   a   comparison   of   life  to   a 

1  See  J.  C.  ROLFE,  "  Some  References  to  Seasickness  in  the  Greek  and 
Latin  Writers,"  in  A.  J.  P.  xxv    (1904),  p.  192  ff. 


Navigation  125 

voyage )  pueritiam  abscondimus   ( i.  e.,  '  we  lose  sight  of ) .     See  Antib.7,  I, 
p.  53  f. 

agere  transversos:   Ep.  8,  4  cum  coepit  transversos  agere  felicitas. 

agitare  (cf.  H.  Lex.,  s.  v.,  n.  B)  :  Ep.  32,  5  vagis  cogitationibus  agitata 
mens.  Ep.  74,  31  vultus  agitabitur.  Ep.  108,  22  agitatiorem  .  .  .  animum. 

allidere:  Ep.  8,  4    (fortuna,  subject). 

cursus:  Ep.  16,  3  (see  gubernaculum) .  Ep.  Ill,  4  secundo  cursu  vita 
procedit. 

f  return:    Ep.   19,  2  in  freto  viximus,  moriamur  in  portu. 

gubernaculum:  Ep.  16,  3  (philosophia)  sedet  ad  gubernaculum  et  per 
ancipitia  fluctuantium  derigit  cursum.  Ep.  107,  10  lovem,  cuius  guber- 
naculo  moles  ista  derigitur. 

inhibere  (see  Cic.  Att.  13,  21,  3)  :  Ep.  29,  8  (vitia,  object).  Ep.  121,  4 
(adfectus,  object).  Cf.  Sen.  Here.  Get.  1029.  The  only  other  authors  cited 
by  Lexx.  for  the  tropical  use  of  this  verb  are  Catullus,  Livy,  Petronius, 
Persius,  the  elder  Pliny,  and  Quintilian. 

legere  terrain:  Ep.  19,  9   (see  velum). 

naufragium:  Ep.  87,  1  naufragium,  antequam  navem  ascenderem,  feci. 
Ep.  88,  7  (in  a  series  of  comparisons  with  Ulysses).  Cf.  Sen.  Epigr.  6, 
4  f.  Crispe  .  .  .  naufragio  litus  tutaque  terra  meo  (by  which  Seneca 
refers  to  the  'wreck  of  his  fortunes'  a't  his  banishment). 

naufragus:  Ep.  74,  4  (applied  to  the  victims  of  popular  disapproval). 
Ep.  88,  7  (see  navigare). 

navigare:  Ep.  57,  1  (applied  to  travelling  on  a  muddy  road).  Ep.  88, 
7  doce  .  .  .  quomodo  ad  haec  tarn  honesta  vel  naufragus  navigem. 

portus:  Ep.  19,  2  (see  f  return) .  Ep.  72,  10  (of  those  who  are  'amusing 
themselves  with  philosophy')  nondum  in  sicco,  iam  in  portu  sunt.  Ep. 
90,  7  vivaria  piscium  in  hoc  clausa,  ut  .  .  .  pelago  saeviente  haberet 
luxuria  portus  suos.  Ep.  104,  22  vitae  fluctuantis  et  turbidae  portus; 
cf.  Sen.  Dial.  7,  19,  1  aetatis  in  portu  et  ad  ancoram  actae,  and  Ter.  Andr. 
480  ego  in  portu  navigo. 

praenavigare :  Ep.  70,  2  praenavigavimus  .  .  .  vitam.  The  metaphor 
continues  as  far  as  sect.  4. 

specula:  Ep.  91,  11  altissimos  vertices  (sc.  montium),  solacia  navi- 
gantium  ac  speculas. 

velum:  Ep.  19,  9  hie  te  exitus  manet,  nisi  iam  contrahes  vela,  nisi  .  .  . 
terrain  leges. 

For  tranquillitas  and  tranquillum,  see  p.   171. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  30,  3  (a  man  bearing  up  against  disease 
and  age  compared  to  a  PILOT  guiding  a  disabled  ship).  Ep. 
73,  12,  of  two  good  men,  he  is  not  the  better  who  is  the  more 
wealthy,  any  more  than,  of  two  equally  skilful  pilots,  he  is 
the  better  who  has  the  larger  and  more  showy  ship.  Ep.  75, 
6  (a  doctor  compared  to  a  pilot).  In  Ep.  85,  30-37  the  com- 


126  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

parison  of  a  wise  man  to  a  pilot  is  quoted  and  criticized.  In 
Ep.  87,  15  and  17  ars  gubernandi  is  mentioned  among  other 
illustrations  in  refutation  of  the  fallacious  proposition,  "  what 
can  happen  to  any  base  and  vile  person  is  not  good."  Ep.  95, 
7  (the  artifex  vivendi  compared  to  a  pilot).  Ep.  97,  10-11 
(moral  failure  compared  to  a  mistake  of  a  pilot).  Ep.  108, 
37  (a  teacher  compared  to  a  pilot).  Ep.  109,  14,  a  wise  man 
needs  the  advice  of  others,  as  he  needs  a  pilot.  Ep.  121,  5 
(an  animal,  to  a  pilot).  Ep.  14,  15  '  a  SHIP  is  sometimes 
lost  in  the  harbour,  but  what  do  you  think  would  happen  in 
mid-sea?  If  a  man  is  not  safe  even  in  retirement,  how  much 
more  exposed  to  danger  would  he  be  in  active  life  ? '  Ep. 
30,  2  (an  old  man's  body  compared  to  a  leaky  ship).  Ep.  43, 
2  '  measure  yourself  by  the  place  where  you  are ;  the  ship  which 
is  large  in  a  river  is  very  small  at  sea.'  The  same  comparison 
is  continued  in  the  next  sentence,  "  the  rudder  which  is  large 
for  one  ship  is  small  for  another."  Ep.  70,  11  (choosing 
the  method  of  one's  death  compared  to  choosing  a  ship).  Ep. 
76,  13-15  (man  compared  to  a  ship).  Ep.  88,  31,  liberalia 
studia  are  to  virtue  what  ligna  are  to  a  ship.  Ep.  108,  37 
(life  compared  to  a  ship).  Ep.  81,  2,  we  should  not  cease 
to  be  kind  because  our  kindness  has  been  met  by  ingratitude ; 
men  try  the  sea  again  after  they  have  been  SHIPWEECKED. 
Ep.  28,  3,  it  is  foolish  to  try  to  get  rid  of  the  burdens  of  the 
mind  by  travelling;  they  rather  become  worse,  as  the  LOAD  of 
a  ship  is  less  dangerous  when  still  than  when  rolling  about. 
Ep.  71,  3  (life  without  a  guiding  principle  compared  to  sail- 
ing with  no  POET  in  view).  Ep.  87,  28  (the  pursuit  of  virtue 
compared  to  a  VOYAGE).  Ep.  95,  45  (the  summum  bonum 
compared  to  the  star  by  which  sailors  STEEE).  Ep.  14,  7-8, 
the  wise  man  will  not  provoke  the  wrath  of  the  powerful,  just 
as  he  avoids  the  GALE  in  sailing.  This  leads  to  a  description 
of  the  voyage  to  Sicily,  after  which  Seneca  returns  to  '  the  wise 
man.'  Ep.  74,  4  (popular  disapproval  compared  to  a  gale). 
Ep.  70,  3-4  (life  compared  to  WINDS).  This  concludes  a  long 
naval  metaphor,  beginning  in  sect.  2.  Ep.  73,  5  (gratitude 
to  good  rulers  compared  to  gratitude  to  NEPTUNE). 


Warfare  127 


I.    WARFARE 

As  is  natural  in  a  Boman,  warfare  and  fighting  are  the 
origin  of  many  figurative  expressions  in  our  author;  cf.  Ep. 
96,  5  vivere,  Lucili,  militare  est.  Here,  as  in  several  other 
sections,  the  most  notable  feature  is  the  large  number  of  differ- 
ent terms  which  are  employed.  Some  of  the  comparisons  are 
very  effectively  developed  and  applied. 

The  metaphors  include: 

acies:   Ep.  85,  1  aciem  .  .  .  pro  dis  hominibusque  susceptam. 

adiutorium :  Ep.  27,  5  aliud  litterarum  genus  adiutorium  admittit  (res). 
Ep.  31,  5  sine  adiutorio  ignis  nihil  calidum  est.  Ep.  88,  25  cibus  adiu- 
torium corporis.  Cf.  Veil.  2,  112,  4  Thracum  manum  ...  in  adiutorium 
eius  belli  .  .  .  trahebat.  The  word  is  rare  outside  of  Seneca  and  Quin- 
tilian. 

agere   pacem:    Ep.   94,   57   numquam  pacem   agens   ferrum. 

agmen:  Ep.  12,  8  ordinandus  est  dies  omnis,  tamquam  cogat  agmen. 
Ep.  104,  19  agmine  facto  gens  illuc  humana  pergeret.  Ep.  108,  38  Chry- 
sippus  et  Posidonius  et  ingens  agmen  nostrorum  (according  to  Bucheler's 
emendation  for  "  non "  of  the  MSS.)  tot  ac  talium. 

arma:   Ep.   117,  7  nostris  incipiamus  armis  confligere. 

armare:  Ep.  70,  18  ad  contemptum  nos  doloris  armavimus.  Ep.  74,  21 
ama  rationem!  Huius  te  amor  contra  durissima  armabit.  Ep.  95,  29 
morbi  .  .  .  adversus  quos  et  medicina  armare  se  coepit.  Ep.  121,  21 
animalia  armata  ad  nocendum. 

arx:  Ep.  82,  5  in  insuperabili  loco  stat  animus,  qui  externa  deseruit, 
et  arce  se  sua  vindicat.  Cf.  G.  O.  Berg,  "Metaphor  and  Comparison  in 
the  Dialogues  of  Plato,"  p.  48. 

auxilium:  Ep.  2,  4  adversus  mortem.  Ep.  13,  3  accipe  a  me  auxilia, 
quibus  munire  te  possis.  Ep.  52,  7  (see  pugnare). 

bellum:  Ep.  51,  8  fortuna  mecum  bellum  gerit.  Ep.  87,  9  bellum  .  .  . 
cum  moribus  gessit  ( Cato ) . 

canere:   Ep.  56,  11  si  receptui  cecinimus. 

castra:  Ep.  2,  5  (of  his  quotations  from  Epicurus)  soleo  enim  et  in 
aliena  castra  transire,  non  tamquam  transfuga,  sed  tamquam  explorator. 
Ep.  51,  11  (applied  to  the  villas  of  Marius,  Pompey,  and  Caesar,  near 
Baiae).  Ep.  83,  5  primum  ad  Tiberim  transtuli  castra,  deinde  ad  hoc 
solium. 

claudere:  Ep.  17,  11  epistulam  claudere.  This  use  of  the  verb  may  have 
grown  out  of  the  military  phrase  with  agmen  found  in  the  classical 
period.  To  the  statement  of  Antib.7,  I,  p.  289,  "  Nicht  verwerflich  ist 
es  in  der  Bedeutung  endigcn,  beschliessen,  wiewohl  nur  N.Kl.  bei  Quintil.," 
might  have  been  added  some  reference  to  instances  in  the  poets  Horace 


128  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

(lustrum),  Ovid    (epistolam;   opus),  Lucan    (ius),  Statius    (bella),  Silius 
Italicus    (labores),  and  Martial    (coenas). 
coliors:    Ep.    22,    11    Stoicorum. 

commeatus:   Ep.  54,  1  longum  mihi  commeatum  dederat  mala  valitudo. 
confligere:   Ep.   117,  7    (see  arma) . 

confugere:  Ep.  83,  13  ad  vetera.  Ep.  98,  16  tarn  turpe  putat  mortem 
fugere  quam  ad  mortem  confugere. 

congredi:    Ep.   64,   4  quid   cessas,   fortuna?     Congredere. 
conserere   manum:    Ep.    13,    1    (cum   fortuna). 

constituere:  Ep.  24,  3  singula  ista  (sc.  tormenta)  constitue  ('draw  up, 
set  in  order  ' ) . 

contubernalis :  Ep.  17,  4  quare  hanc  (i.  e.,  paupertatem)  recuses  con- 
tubernalem  ? 

contubernium :  Ep.  6,  6  magnos  viros  non  schola  Epicuri  sed  contu- 
bernium  fecit.  Ep.  20,  10  divitiarum.  Ep.  33,  4  (see  ductus).  Ep.  70, 
17  (of  the  body).  Ep.  95,  10  intra  contubernium  mortale.  Ep.  102,  27 
ex  contubernio  .  .  .  ventris.  Ep.  107,  3  in  hoc  contubernio  (sc.  luctus, 
curarum,  morborum  senectutisque )  vita  degenda  est.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  6, 
10,  4  iam  contubernia  ista  sublato  clamore  solventur. 

debellare:  Ep.  45,  9  tela   (fortunae),  quibus  genus  humanum  debellatur. 
Ep.  51,  6    (see  militare).     Ep.  78,  6  debellata  fortuna  est. 
derigere:   Ep.  107,  5    (see  telum). 

deserere:  Ep.  82,  5  (see  arx).  Ep.  122,  5  vitia  .  .  .  debitum  ordinem 
deserunt. 

despoliare:  Ep.  80,  8  istorum  personata  felicitas  est.  Contemnes  illos, 
si  despoliaveris. 

diripere:  Ep.  90,  40  terra  ...  in  usus  populorum  non  diripientium 
larga. 

domare:  Ep.  83,  22  (ebrietas)  invictos  acie  mero  domuit.  For  its  use 
in  a  different  sphere,  see  p.  154. 

ductus:  Ep.  33,  4  omnia  quae  quisquam  in  illo  contubernio  (i.  e.,  in  the 
school  of  Epicurus)  locutus  est,  unius  ductu  et  auspiciis  dicta  sunt. 

effugere:  Ep.  37,  3  effugere  non  potes  necessitates,  potes  vincere.  Ep. 
49,  10  effice,  ut  ego  mortem  non  fugiam,  vita  me  non  effugiat.  Ep.  53, 
5  (stomachus,  subject;  nausiam,  object).  Ep.  54,  7  necessitatem.  Ep.  70, 
23  (of  a  criminal  who  committed  suicide  by  breaking  his  neck  in  the 
wheel  of  the  death-cart)  eodem  vehiculo,  quo  ad  poenam  ferebatur,  effugit. 
Ep.  88,  11  si  quid  decempedam  effugit.  Ep.  88,  34  (animus,  subject). 
Ep.  94,  18  remedio,  quo  purgetur  acies  ('sight')  et  officientem  sibi  moram 
effugiat.  Ep.  95,  41  res  ...  reprehensionem  effugit.  Ep.  97,  16  scelera 
legem  et  vindicem  effugiunt.  Ep.  99,  30  effugit  enim  maximum  mortis 
incommodum. 

emunire:  Ep.  82,  4  emunita  et  in  altum  subducta  vitae  quies.  The 
only  similar  example  given  by  Lexx.  is  Sen.  Contr.  3,  17,  10,  p.  266  Bip. 
(=vii,  2  (17),  10  Kiess.)  olim  iam  adversum  hunc  metum  emunivit 
animum. 

exarmare,  in  Ep.  30,  3,  is  used  absolutely  in  the  sense  '  lose  his  rigging/ 


Warfare  129 

with  gubernator  as  subject.  The  only  similar  instance  cited  by  Lexx.  is 
Dig.  14,  2,  2,  sect.  1,  with  navis  as  subject;  but  the  passive  participle  in 
agreement  with  navis  is  found  in  Sen.  Contr.  vn,  1  (16),  9  Kiess.  and 
Sen.  Dial.  12,  19,  7;  cf.  also  Sen.  Ep.  85,  34  (tempestas)  quae  aut  refert 
ilium  (sc.  gubernatorem)  aut  detinet  et  exarmat.  Ep.  104,  31  utrumque 
(i.  e.,  Caesarem  Pompeiumque)  exarmat  (Cato);  cf.  Antib.7,  I,  p.  534. 

exauctoratus  ( '  honorably  discharged ' )  :  Ep.  32,  5  exauctoratus  ac  liber, 
qui  vivit  vita  peracta. 

excubare:  Ep.  102,  21  lumina   (i.  e.,  sidera)   in  actus  suos  excubant. 

expeditio:  Ep.  45,  2  (referring  to  a  visit  to  Lucilius)  hanc  senilem  ex- 
peditionem  indixissem  mini. 

expeditus:  Ep.  48,  9  vita.  Ep.  74,  30  (see  procinctus).  Ep.  90,  13 
sapiens  .  .  .  esse  quam  expeditissimus  cupiat.  Ep.  94,  29  quaedam  .  .  . 
in  animo  .  .  .,  quae  incipiunt  in  expeditio  esse,  cum  dicta  sunt. 

explorator:   Ep.  2,  5    (see  castra) . 

expugnare:  Ep.  50,  6  (opera  and  cura,  subjects).  Ep.  87,  41  (adfectus, 
object).  Ep.  91,  12  (vetustas,  subject).  Ep.  94,  21  (quoted  from  Aristo) 
(praecepta,  subject;  opiniones,  object). 

fuga:  Ep.  22,  10  rerum.  Ep.  124,  3  (sensibus)  tradidisti  adpetitionis 
et  fugae  arbitrium. 

fugare:  Ep.  7,  1  aliquid  ex  iis,  quae  fugavi,  redit.  Ep.  106,  5  adfectus 
.  .  .  fugent  sanguinem.  Ep.  123,  13  duo  esse  genera  rerum,  quae  nos  aut 
invitent  aut  fugent. 

fugax:  In  Ep.  1,  3  time  is  described  as  res  fugax  ac  lubrica;  cf.  Sen. 
Phaed.  773  res  est  forma  fugax.  Ep.  18,  10  (voluptas).  Ep.  58,  23 
amamus  rem  fugacissimam,  corpus.  Ep.  74,  18  (bona).  The  tropical  use 
of  this  word  is  shown  by  Lexx.  only  for  Cicero  (Fam.  10,  12,  5,  HIT.  Xe7.  )y 
Horace  (Odes),  Ovid,  the  two  Plinys  (by  the  younger  in  a  poetic  quo- 
tation), and  Seneca;  add  Petronius,  Sat.  124,  line  250  (also  in  a  poetic 
passage ) .  Even  in  a  literal  sense  it  is  almost  confined  to  poetry  and 
post-Augustan  prose. 

fugere:  Ep.  12,  4  (poma,  subject).  Ep.  22,  7  laborem.  Ep.  24,  25  e 
vita.  Ep.  24,  26  in  orbem  nexa  sunt  omnia,  fugiunt  ac  sequuntur.  Ep. 
27,  2  (voluptates,  subject).  Ep.  40,  3  non  traditur,  quod  fugit.  Ep.  49, 
9  (vita,  subject).  Ep.  49,  10  (see  effugere) .  Ep.  82,  6  adpetenda  ae 
fugienda  discernat.  Ep.  94,  8  turpitudinem.  Ep.  98,  16  (see  confugere). 
Ep.  104,  1  (urbem  and  febrem,  objects).  Ep.  104,  10  (fides,  subject). 
Ep.  108,  16  (balneum,  object).  Ep.  118,  5  petuntque  mox  fugienda  aut. 
etiam  fastidienda. 

impetus:  Ep.  7,  6  vitiorum.  Ep.  7,  7  moribus  .  .  .,  in  quos  .  .  .  factua 
est  impetus.  Ep.  95,  17  (febrium  saevientium ) .  Ep.  104,  13  amoris. 
Ep.  110,  7  (see  incursitare) .  Only  those  examples  are  here  included 
which  involve  the  idea  of  hostility ;  for  others,  see  under  "  Words  indi- 
cating General  Actions,"  p.  178. 

incidere:    Ep.    103,    1     (see    insidiari). 

incurrere:  Ep.  91,  5  (fortuna,  subject).  Ep.  96,  1  (damna,  vulnera, 
labores,  metus,  subjects).  Ep.  108,  19  in  parentis  animam. 

incursio:   Ep.   67,   14  fortunae  incursionibus. 


130  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

incursitare:  Ep.  110,  7  tota  vita  incursitamus  .  .  .  Vides  autem,  quam 
sit  furiosa  res  in  tenebris  impetus.  The  context  here  does  not  show  that 
any  idea  of  attacking  is  involved  in  this  example,  but  Seneca  uses  the 
word  elsewhere  in  a  hostile  sense.  It  seems  to  have  been  coined  by  him, 
and  is  cited  from  no  other  author.  See  Antib.T,  I,  p.  720. 

inexpugnabilis :    Ep.  57,  4  adfectio  inexpugnabilis  ration!. 

insidiae:  Ep.  8,  3  munera  ista  fortunae  putatis?     Insidiae  sunt. 

insidiari:  Ep.  103,  1  incendium  dico,  ruinam,  alia  quae  nobis  incidunt, 
non  insidiantur. 

insidiosus:  Ep.  15,  11  ista  insidiosa  bona.  The  only  examples  of  this 
word  applied  to  inanimate  objects  and  abstracts  that  are  given  by  Lexx. 
are  Cic.  Att.  8,  16,  2  (dementia)  ;  Ov.  M.  14,  294  (pocula)  ;  id.  Her.  20, 
212  (19,  210  Ehw.)  (verba)  ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  3,  78  (Capraria)  ;  id.  ib.  29, 
28  (condicio). 

instructus:   Ep.  24,  5    (see  subornatus) . 

invictus:  Ep.  66,  13  mantis.  Ep.  66,  23  opera  virtutis.  Ep.  77,  12 
series.  Ep.  85,  29  invictus  ex  alto  dolores  suos  spectat.  Ep.  98,  10  nihil 
.  .  .  aeternum  et  invictum  est. 

miles:  Ep.  120,  12  vir  ille  perfectus  .  .  .  civem  esse  se  universi  et 
militem  credens  labores  velut  imperatos  subiit. 

militare:  Ep.  48,  10  contra  fortunam.  Ep.  51,  6  nobis  quoque  mili- 
tandum  est,  et  quidem  genere  militiae,  quo  numquam  quies,  numquam 
otium  datur.  Debellandae  sunt  in  primis  voluptates.  Ep.  96,  5  vivere 
.  .  .  militare  est. 

militia:    Ep.  37,   1    (see  sacramentum) .     Ep.  51,   6    (see  militare). 

missile:  Ep.  74,  6  ad  haec,  quae  a  fortuna  sparguntur,  sinum  expandit 
et  sollicitus  missilia  eius  expectat. 

munimentum:  Ep.  8,  5  domus  munimentum  sit  adversus  infesta  corporis. 
Ep.  95,  14  (see  petere).  Ep.  113,  27  quid  est  fortitude?  Munimentum 
humanae  imbecillitatis  inexpugnabile ;  the  metaphor  runs  through  several 
lines  and  is  continued  in  sect.  28  by  a  quotation  from  Posidonius. 

munire:  Ep.  13,  3  (see  auxilium ) .  Ep.  95,  12  decreta  sunt,  quae  mu- 
niunt;  cf.  Firm.  Math.  2,  23,  1  ut  iste  institutionis  liber  plena  matheseos 
substantia  muniatur. 

munitio:   Ep.  74,  22  non  faciet  vos  haec  munitio  tutos  a  fortuna. 

mums:  Ep.  82,  5  philosophia  circumdanda  est,  inexpugnabilis  murus; 
the  resulting  metaphor  of  the  '  assault  by  fortune '  runs  through  this 
sentence  and  the  next. 

obsidere  (ops-)  :  Ep.  19.  11  homo  .  .  .  bonis  suis  obsessus;  cf.  Sen.  Tro. 
989  obsessa  videor  cladibus,  and  Here.  Fur.  1112  pectora  tantis  obsessa 
malis.  Ep.  76,  25  (animas)  clausas  et  opsessas.  Ep.  95,  4  si  animum 
opiniones  obsident  pravae;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  560  obsedit  animos,  and  Ag.  136 
mentis  obsessae.  Ep.  95,  36  mala  consuetudine  obsessis.  In  Ep.  108,  3 
scholam  .  .  .  opsideremus,  we  have  an  instance  of  the  rare  use  of  the 
active  of  this  verb  transitively  and  in  a  literal  sense.  The  only  parallels 
given  by  Lexx.  are  Plaut.  Rud.  698;  Cic.  Div.  2,  56,  115  (in  a  poetic 
quotation);  Pliny,  N.  H.  11,  62;  and  Sil.  8,  634.  Its  corresponding  use 
with  the  dative  is  confined  to  poetry. 


Warfare  131 

ordinare:    Ep.   10,  2    (i 

WaL  7,  6  (animus) 
93,  9  (natural 

paeatns:   Ep.  66,  24  rem 

pax:  Ep.  28,  7  (ace  jm^).    Bp.  89,  22 

diopaxest.  Seneca  means  that  appetite  spares  notlring  tfcat  is 
in  its  search  for  dainties.  Boehder  conjectures  "pareit-*  Ep.  95,  31, 
man  should  be  ashamed  to  wage  war,  earn  inter  9C  etiam  mmti*  me  fen* 
fa*  sit. 

petere:  Ep.  95,  14  neeesae  est  tanto 
Tehementiora  sunt,  quibns  petimur.     Ep.   123,   13 
eitemur.    For  use  in  a  difletenl  sense,  see  p.  24. 

praeda:  Ep.  19,  4  amieitia  olim  petebator  (sc.  a 

pracsidiam:    Ep.  94,  31    (indoles)    contra  pram 
praesidium, 

proeinetas:  Ep.  74,  30  nanestmn  .  .  .  CTpeditum  est,  interritnm  est, 
in  proeinetn  stat  CL  Gtea.  Fhikix,  160,  7  G^  and  Laefins  Felix  ap.  GdL 
15,  27,  3.  See  also  Antib.1,  n,  p.  3S7  and  Otto,  "  Spridiwditer/'  p.  288. 

prodere:    Ep.    114,  22  : 

profugere:  Ep.  117,  21 


prorocarc:    Ep.   64,  4   fibet 
proroeabas  mala  absentia.    Ep.  88,  29 
meat.    Ep.  120,  19  Udnnm  dMtiis, 


Ep.  28,  7  sapiens  fact  ista,  non 
qnam  in  pngna.    Ep.  117,  25 

pugnare:   Ep.  45,  7 

ttfliis,  ct  Hor.  Ep.  1,  1,  97  (sententia  secant);  Or.  M.  1,  19  frigida 
nabant  ealidis,  umentia  sieeis,  |  mollia  cunt  dnris;  Sfl.  10,  283  (no 
furor).  Ep.  52,  7  imus  per  obstantia.  Itaque  pngnenms,  afiquonm 

(eandidatus)    alienis,  quis  sms  Tiribns  pugnet.    Ep.  122,  5  ritia 
naturam  pugnanL.    Ep.  123,   13  in  •«••  !••«!•••. 

:  Ep.  66,  12  animi  magmtudo  .  .  .  pugnax  et  intenta. 

Ep.  51,  10  in  prime  deficit  puhnere;  eL  Oe.  De  Or.  1,  34,  157 


rapina:   Ep.  14,  13 
nmtat:   sed  in  albs 

i:  Ep.  70,  28  (of 


icbeOare:  Ep.  69,  3  fit 

refugcre:  Ep.  88,  5  («W«p/«/«,  object).    Ep.  120,  6  non  afiter 
dhitias  quam  Tenenmn.    Ep.  1M,  17  dolorem.    Ep.  124,  1  (borrowed 
Verg.  G.  1,  176t).    CL  Antib.*,  n,  p.  492. 

repeOere:  Efc».  59,  9   (stnltitiam).    Ep.  94,  55 


132  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

ones  .  .  .  repellantur.     Ep.   117,  21  quemadmodum  quae  me  ex  transverse 
feriunt  aguntque,  procul  a  me  repellam. 

repugnare:  Ep.  22,  4  est  aliquid,  etiam  si  non  repugnare,  subsistere. 
Ep.  92,  5  fortuitis  repugnantibus.  Ep.  97,  14  hoc  ego  repugnare  sectae 
nostrae  .  .  .  non  iudico.  Ep.  Ill,  1  nomini  .  .  .  repugnatum  est.  Ep. 

123,  16  paupertas  nulli  mahim  est  nisi  repugnanti. 

sacramentum :  Ep.  37,  1  quod  maximum  vinculum  est  ad  bonam  mentein, 
promisisti  virum  bonum,  sacramento  rogatus  es.  Deridebit  te,  si  quis 
tibi  dixerit  mollem  esse  militiam  et  facilem. 

signum:   Ep.  90,  8  avaritiae  signum  dare.     Ep.  117,  25    (see  pugna). 

static:  Ep.  120,  18  animus  ...  in  hac  statione  qua  positus  est,  honeste 
se  .  .  .  gerat. 

stipendium:    Ep.  93,  4  functum  omnibus  vitae  humanae  stipendiis. 

subornatus:  Ep.  24,  5  hominem  non  eruditum  nee  ullis  praeceptis  contra 
mortem  aut  dolorem  subornatum,  militari  tantum  robore  instructum. 

subsidium:  Ep.  88,  32  rnemoria  .  .  .,  quae  nullum  extra  se  subsidium 
habet. 

superare:   Ep.  78,  20  morbum  posse  superari. 

telum:  Ep.  18,  11  praeoccupare  tela  fortunae.  Ep.  45,  9  (see  debcl- 
lare)  ;  the  metaphor  of  fortuna  hurling  her  weapon  is  carried  through 
several  lines.  Ep.  70,  19  quae  natura  non  erant  noxia,  vi  sua  tela  fecerunt 
(homines).  Ep.  74,  4  invidia,  perniciosum  optimis  telum.  Ep.  85,  26 
mortem,  vincla,  ignes,  alia  tela  fortunae.  Ep.  99,  32  (fortunae).  Ep.  102, 
7  in  nos  nostra  tela  mittuntur.  Ep.  104,  22  tela  fortunae  adverse  pectore 
excipere.  In  Ep.  107,  5,  even  if  we  do  not  accept  the  probable  conjecture 
of  Biicheler  that  "  tela  fortunae  "  should  be  inserted  in  the  lacuna,  there 
is  no  doubt  as  to  the  metaphor  involved  in  the  words  in  nos  deriguntur 
.  .  .  in  nos  fiaca  .  .  .  vibrant  .  .  .  veniunt  .  .  .  in  alios  perventura  nos 
stringunt. 

tiro:   Ep.  107,  4  ut  nulli  sis  malo  tiro. 

tirunculus:  Ep.  108,  23  (applied  to  young  pupils).  The  word  is  post- 
Augustan,  and  the  transferred  sense  is  the  prevailing  one. 

transfuga:  Ep.  2,  5  (see  castra). 

vasa:  Ep.  19,  1  incipiamus  vasa  in  senectute  colligere.  I  find  no  other 
instance  of  this  tropical  use. 

vastatrix:    Ep.   95,   19   luxuria,   terrarum  marisque  vastatrix. 

victor:   Ep.  78,  18  doloris.     Ep.  85,  38  malorum. 

vincere:  Ep.  13,  1  (praecepta,  subject).  Ep.  14,  6  (twice).  Ep.  24,  10 
mortem.  Ep.  37,  3  (see  effugere).  Ep.  51,  6.  Ep.  52,  6  malignitatem 
naturae  suae.  Ep.  58,  36.  Ep.  66,  53.  Ep.  71,  37.  Ep.  73,  13  deus  non 
vincit  sapientem  felicitate,  etiam  si  vincit  aetate.  Ep.  78,  15.  Ep.  78,  18. 
Ep.  79,  7.  Ep.  83,  23  victa  .  .  .  difficultate.  Ep.  83,  24  vinceris  a  dolio. 
Ep.  85,  3.  Ep.  88,  19  ab  iracundia  vinci.  Ep.  92,  26.  Ep.  94,  24  (medi- 
cina  morbos).  Ep.  94,  61  cupiditate  victi.  Ep.  95,  20  natura  .  .  .  victa 
est.  Ep.  98,  12.  Ep.  98,  14  (fortuna,  subject).  Ep.  99,  10.  Ep.  99,  19. 
Ep.  100,  9.  Ep.  100,  12.  Ep.  104,  9.  Ep.  119,  2.  Ep.  120,  6.  Ep. 

124,  22.     Ep.  124,  23. 


Warfare  133 

Comparisons:  Ep.  13,  8,  we  do  not  try  to  shake  off  our 
fears,  but  turn  our  backs  like  men  who  are  FRIGHTENED  FROM 
their  CAMP  by  the  dust  from  a  flock  of  sheep.  Ep.  14,  6 
external  violence,  like  great  ARMIES  (bella  has  this  sense  here, 
as  in  Ov.  M.  12,  24;  Stat.  Theb.  9,  490;  Sil.  7,  472;  Pliny, 
Pan.  12,  3;  cf.  Cic.  Manil.  12  and  Flor.  1,  18,  17  Kossb.), 
conquers  by  its  display  and  equipment.  Ep.  18,  6,  in  times 
of  tranquillity,  the  mind  should  be  prepared  for  adversity,  as 
the  SOLDIER  in  time  of  peace  trains  himself  for  the  hardships 
of  war.  In  Ep.  47,  7,  Pauly  takes  militari  Jiabitu  as  mean- 
ing '  stalwart  as  a  soldier.'  Ep.  49,  6  '  I  have  no  time  to 
attend  to  clever  quibbles ;  when  the  enemy  is  close  behind  him, 
the  soldier  must  throw  aside  what  he  has  gotten  together  in 
the  idleness  of  peace.'  Ep.  51,  10-11,  as  the  man  already  in- 
ured to  hardship  makes  the  better  soldier,  so  the  severe 
training  of  hard  surroundings  prepares  the  mind  for  great 
undertakings.  Ep.  56,  8-9,  we  should  not  be  idle;  when 
generals  find  their  soldiers  becoming  unruly,  they  set  them  at 
work  upon  something.  Ep.  66,  50,  the  soldier  on  guard  in 
front  of  his  rampart,  with  no  enemy  near,  may  be  as  brave  as 
he  who,  desperately  wounded,  still  fights  on,  but  the  applause 
is  given  to  those  who  are  blood-stained;  so  we  praise  rather 
the  virtues  which  have  fought  against  fortune.  The  same 
comparison  is  differently  expressed  in  sect.  52,  in  connection 
with  the  story  of  Scaevola.  Ep.  107,  9-10,  he  is  a  poor  soldier 
who  follows  his  general,  grumbling;  therefore  let  us  receive 
the  divine  commands  with  ready  alacrity.  Ep.  109,  8,  the 
fully  armed  soldier  needs  no  more  weapons  for  battle;  the 
philosopher  is  thoroughly  equipped  for  life.  Ep.  29,  6  (Aristo, 
who  taught  while  carried  in  a  litter,  compared  to  an  ESSEDA- 
RIUS).  Ep.  32,  3  'hasten,  Lucilius,  as  if  hostile  cavalry  were 
in  close  PURSUIT.'  Ep.  39,  3  (pleasures  compared  to  an  in- 
solent ENEMY).  In  Ep.  49,  8-9  the  quotation  of  Verg.  A. 
8,  385  f.  leads  to  a  vivid  description  of  a  SIEGE,,  which  is  then, 
through  simile,  applied  metaphorically  to  the  moral  sphere. 
Ep.  59,  7-8  (the  wise  man  compared  to  an  army  MARCHING 


134  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

THROUGH  HOSTILE  COUNTRY;  quoted  from  Sextius  and  ex- 
panded by  Seneca).  Ep.  74,  3  (living  in  constant  fear  of 
death  compared  to  marching  through  hostile  country,  alarmed 
at  every  sound).  Ep.  65,  18,  the  philosopher,  as  if  bound  by 
a  SOLDIER'S  OATH,  considers  life  as  his  term  of  SERVICE.  Ep. 
95,  35  (the  '  happy  life '  compared  to  military  service)  ;  there 
is  a  notable  lack  of  symmetry  in  this  comparison,  although  the 
parts  are  connected  by  quemadmodum  .  .  .  ita.  Ep.  66,  40 
(quoted  from  an  imaginary  opponent,  for  refutation),  as  un- 
disturbed PEACE  is  better  than  that  won  by  bloodshed,  so  joy  is 
a  greater  good  than  brave  endurance  of  tortures.  Ep.  67,  4, 
i  I  should  prefer  that  WAR  would  not  break  out,  but,  if  it  does, 
I  desire  to  bear  its  hardships  bravely ;  so  I  would  rather  escape 
torture  and  other  unpleasant  things,  but,  if  they  come,  it  is 
desirable  that  I  conduct  myself  courageously.'  In  Ep.  91,  5 
wars  arising  in  the  midst  of  peace  are  used  to  illustrate  the 
sudden  attack  of  fortuna.  Ep.  96,  5  (life  compared  to  war- 
fare). Ep.  76,  14-15  (a  good  man  compared  to  a  good  SWORD). 
Ep.  87,  30,  riches  of  themselves  are  no  more  harmful  than  is 
a  sword  of  itself.  Ep.  92,  13,  the  body  is  to  the  soul  as  the 
sheath  is  to  a  sword.  Ep.  94,  3  (education  for  life  compared 
to  training  for  JAVELIN-THROWING).  Ep.  95,  38,  it  will  do 
no  more  good  to  give  rules  without  first  removing  what  will 
prevent  their  operation  than  it  would  to  offer  WEAPONS  before 
the  hands  were  able  to  use  them.  Ep.  78,  17,  as  the  enemy  is 
more  dangerous  to  those  in  FLIGHT,  so  every  accidental  evil 
presses  harder  upon  one  who  yields  to  it.  Ep.  89,  2-3  (the 
parts  of  philosophy  compared  to  the  CENTURIES  in  an  army). 
Ep.  89,  8,  virtue  and  the  desire  for  it  are  not  different  as, 
in  the  case  of  SHOOTING,  he  who  aims  is  different  from  him 
who  is  aimed  at.  Ep.  105,  2,  contempt  may  be  a  protection; 
even  in  BATTLE  he  who  has  fallen  is  passed  by,  men  fight  with 
him  who  stands. 

Here  may  also  be  included  Ep.  29,  9,  where  Seneca  argues 
that  he  is  foolish  who  fears  a  host  in  a  place  through  which 
there  is  room  for  only  one  to  pass  at  a  time,  so,  though  many 


Offices  135 

threaten  your  death,  it  is  not  possible  for  many  to  accomplish 
it;  Ep.  74,  19,  where  the  fall  of  prosperous  cities  is  used  as 
an  illustration  of  the  dangers  of  excess,  passing  into  a  pretty 
metaphor  introduced  by  adverms  lios  casus  muniendi  sumus; 
and  Ep.  74,  21,  where  it  is  said  that  reason  should  inspire 
greater  courage  than  does  the  desire  for  glory,  which  leads 
young  men  to  despise  fire  and  sword  and  death  itself. 

J.     LAW   AND  POLITICS 

The  results  under  this  head  are  about  what  might  have  been 
expected.  Abundant  use  is  made  of  words  expressive  of  '  rul- 
ing '  and  i  commanding,7  but  very  little  of  definite  offices.  The 
largest  number  of  expressions  of  the  latter  class  refer  to  the 
censor  and  his  duties.  Outside  of  this,  there  are  only  two 
references  to  the  consulship,  and  one  of  these  (Ep.  110,  1)  is 
questionable ;  two  to  the  praetorship,  one  to  the  procuratorship, 
and  two  comparisons  referring  to  the  senate.  There  is  a  long 
list  of  terms  connected  with  laws  and  court  procedure,  and 
several  comparisons  are  derived  from  the  same  sphere;  but 
about  a  third  of  the  tropical  expressions  involve  the  entirely 
commonplace  transfer  of  the  words  decretum,  ius,  and  lex  to 
the  natural  and  moral  sphere.  The  only  specific  crimes  from 
which  figures  are  derived  are  theft  and  conspiracy;  and  these 
together  furnish  only  three  metaphors  and  three  similes. 
Other  phrases  from  civic  relations  are  fairly  numerous;  and 
mention  should  be  made  of  the  frequent  employment  of  publicus 
in  the  sense  of  communis  or  vulgaris,  which  is  characteristic 
of  Seneca.  Noteworthy,  also,  is  the  description  of  an  election 
scene,  in  Ep.  118,  2-4.  I  have  subdivided  the  examples  under 
the  following  captions: 

(a)    OFFICES 

censere:  Ep.  76,  8  id  in  quoque  .  .  .,  cui  nascitur,  quo  censetur.  Ep. 
87,  17  (virtus)  suo  aere  censetur.  Ep.  93,  6  an  inter  iuniores  adhuc 
censear? 

censor:   Ep.  123,  11  alienae  vitae  eensores. 


136  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

censura:  Ep.  47,  8  convivarum  (referring  to  the  selection  of  guests  to 
be  invited).  Ep.  66,  25  inter  suos.  Ep.  95,  72  censura  fuit  illi,  non  cena; 
referring  to  Tubero's  lignei  lecti,  as  an  indication  of  his  character,  show- 
ing that  he  was  worthy  Catonilus  insert.  Ep.  108,  13  cui  liceret  censuram 
agere  regnantium.  This  tropical  use  of  the  word  is  cited  by  Lexx.  only 
from  Ovid,  Velleius,  the  elder  Pliny,  Juvenal  and  Gellius.  In  the  sense 
of  gravitas,  severitas  it  appears  in  the  Scriptores  Historiae  Augustae; 
and  it  became  a  technical  term  for  '  excommunication '  in  the  ecclesiastical 
writers  (e.  g.,  Tert.  Apol.  39). 

census:  Ep.  12,  6  (see  citare,  p.  139).  Ep.  95,  41  cena  .  .  .  equestrem 
censum  consumente.  Ep.  95,  58  quanti  quidque  in  censum  deferendum  sit. 

imperare:  Ep.  18,  3  animo  imperandum  est.  Ep.  29,  11  "  Quis  hoc?" 
inquis,  tamquam  nescias,  cui  imperem:  Epicurus.  Ep.  33,  7.  Ep.  51,  8 
(imperata  a  fortuna).  Ep.  77,  5  morbo  .  .  .  multa  imperante.  Ep.  78, 
2.  Ep.  88,  29  temperantia  voluptatibus  imperat.  Ep.  90,  15  (natura,  sub- 
ject). Ep.  90,  18  (a  natura  imperatum).  Ep.  90,  34.  Ep.  92,  26  (volup- 
tas,  subject).  Ep.  94,  7  (mundi  necessitas,  subject).  Ep.  94,  20  non  est 
quod  plenis  oculis  ac  tumentibus  imperes.  Ep.  94,  37  (leges,  subject). 
Ep.  95,  18  qui  nondum  se  deliciis  solverant,  qui  sibi  imperabant,  sibi 
ministrabant.  Ep.  104,  3  hoc  quoque  imperet  sibi  animus.  Ep.  106,  10 
quod  imperat  corpori,  corpus  est.  Ep.  107,  6  imperetur  aequitas  animo. 
Ep.  113,  30  (see  regnum).  Ep.  116,  1  quidni  ad  te  magis  perventurae 
sint  (voluptates),  si  illis  imperabis,  quam  si  servies?  Ep.  123,  2  (fames, 
subject). 

imperiosus:    Ep.   82,   22  virtus. 

imperium:  Ep.  11,  6  haberet  rerum  naturam  sub  imperio.  Ep.  16,  6 
si  providentia  in  imperio  est.  Ep.  67,  16  quicquid  ex  huius  (sc.  virtutis) 
geritur  imperio.  Ep.  74,  31  ex  imperio  animi.  Ep.  92,  33  (corporis). 
Ep.  94,  60  si  vis  exercere  tibi  utile,  nulli  autem  grave  imperium,  summove 
vitia.  Ep.  106,  10  aut  malitiae  aut  virtutis.  Ep.  113,  30  (see  regnum). 

iubere:  Ep.  53,  9  (see  under  ordinarius) .  Ep.  90,  19  luxuria  .  .  . 
animum  corpori  addixit  et  illius  deservire  libidini  iussit.  Ep.  91,  20 
(fama,  subject).  Ep.  92,  9.  Ep.  99,  9  iubente  fortuna.  Ep.  102,  29 
cogitatio,  subject).  Ep.  117,  23.  Ep.  120,  5  (natura,  subject). 

iudex:    see  p.   204. 

ordinarius:  Ep.  110,  1  paedagogum  dari  deum,  non  quidem  ordinarium, 
sed  hunc  inferioris  notae.  This  may  involve  an  allusion  either  to  the 
civil  term  consul  ordinarius  or  to  the  military  centurio  ordinarius.  Cf. 
Ep.  53,  9  (philosophia)  non  est  res  subsiciva;  ordinaria  est,  domina  est, 
adesse  iubet;  and  Ben.  3,  28,  5  ad  hortos  alicuius  ne  ordinarium  quidem 
habentis  omcium;  but  cf.  also  Ep.  39,  1  ratio  ordinaria;  and  see  Antib.T, 
II,  p.  227,  s.  v.  ordinarie. 

ordo:  Ep.  63,  14  tamquam  ordinem  fata  servarent.  Ep.  75,  16  ampli- 
oris  ordinis  fieri;  cf.,  in  the  preceding  sect.,  secundus  occupator  gradus  and 
color  tertius.  For  the  legal  phrase  extra  ordinem,  in  Ep.  106,  2,  see  under 
ius,  p.  141. 

parere:    Ep.   85,   8    (adfectus,   subject).     Ep.    90,    34   opinionibus   falsis. 


Laws  and  Courts  137 

Ep.  91,  15.  Ep.  93,  2  te  naturae  an  tibi  parere  naturam.  Ep.  124,  3 
sensibus. 

proceres:  Ep.  33,  1  (of  the  leading  Stoic  philosophers)  ;  the  only  parallel 
examples  cited  by  Lexx.  are  from  the  elder  Pliny. 

procurator:    Ep.   92,   33    (animus)    corporis  .  .  .  procurator   est. 

regere:  Ep.  37,  4  (ratio,  subject).  Ep.  66,  44  (bonum)  fortunae  indul- 
gentiam  rexit.  Ep.  Ill,  5  (vitam). 

regimen:  Ep.  95,  58  nihil  liquet  incertissimo  regimine  utentibus,  fama. 
See  Antib.7,  n,  p.  493,  s.  v.  regimentum. 

regnum:  Ep.  53,  9  exereet  philosophia  regnum  suum.  Ep.  106,  7  (cor- 
pora) quae  in  illis  (corporibus)  regnum  suum  exercent.  Ep.  107,  8  hoc, 
quod  vides,  regnum  (i.  e.,  of  nature).  Ep.  113,  30  ignari,  quod  sit  illud 
ingens  parque  dis  regnum.  Imperare  sibi  maximum  imperium  est. 

rex:  Ep.  33,  4  (Stoici)  non  sumus  sub  rege;  i.  e.,  we  have  no  one  to 
dictate  to  us  as  Epicurus  does  to  his  followers.  Ep.  114,  23  rex  noster  est 
animus;  cf.  under  tyrannus. 

tyrannus:  Ep.  114,  24  animus  noster  modo  rex  est,  modo  tyrannus. 

vetare:  Ep.  51,  3  neminem  Canopus  esse  frugi  vetet.  Ep.  88,  30  (hu- 
manitas,  subject).  Ep.  95,  46  (indefinite  neuter  plural  subject). 

Comparisons:  Ep.  21,  9  (partial  endorsement  of  philosophi- 
cal views  compared  to  VOTING  on  a  bill  by  sections,  IN  THE 
SENATE).  Ep.  66,  41,  when  men  vote  for  a  measure  in  the 
senate,  it  is  impossible  to  say  this  man  agrees  to  the  measure 
more  than  that  man;  they  all  agree  to  it;  so  all  virtues,  all 
good  things,  are  in  agreement  with  nature.  Ep.  64,  10,  Cato, 
Laelius,  Socrates,  and  other  philosophers,  are  as  worthy  of 
honors  as  is  a  CONSUL  or  a  PRAETOR.  Ep.  71,  11  (Cato's  defeat 
in  the  civil  war  compared  to  his  defeat  for  the  praetorship). 
Ep.  95,  3  (public  OFFICES  as  an  illustration  of  things  which, 
after  being  eagerly  sought,  prove  undesirable). 


(b)    LAWS  AND  COURTS 

accusator  :   Ep.  28,  10   (see  under  deprehendere,  p.  144). 

addicere:  Ep.  28,  4  nulli  loco  addicere  .  .  .  animum.  Ep.  65,  2  (see 
arbiter).  Ep.  71,  14  mens  .  .  .  quae  se  corpori  addixerit.  Ep.  90,  19 
luxuria  .  .  .  animum  corpori  addixit.  Ep.  95,  43  si  honesto  nos  addixe- 
rimus.  Ep.  100,  10  ille  rerum  se  magnitudini  addixit.  Ep.  110,  10 
addiximus  animum  voluptati. 

administare:   Ep.  117,  23  elementa,,  quibus  hie  mundus  administratur. 

adoptare:  Ep.  88,  40  Apion  ...  in  nomen  Homeri  ab  omnibus  civita- 
tibus  adoptatus ;  i.  e.,  he  was  called  a  '  second  Homer.' 


138  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

adserere :  Ep.  34,  2  adsero  te  mihi :  meum  opus  es  ( meaning,  '  I  claim 
you  as  my  own';  cf.  Sen.  Here.  Get.  1302  f.  non  minus  caelum  mihi  | 
asserere  potui ) .  Ep.  70,  24  plura  sunt,  per  quae  sese  adserat  ( '  sets 
himself  free';  the  theme  is  suicide).  Ep.  104,  16  eximendus  animus  ex 
miserrima  servitute  in  libertatem  adseritur.  See  Antib.7,  i,  p.  207. 

adsertor:    Ep.   13,   14    (Catonis)    gladium  adsertorem   libertatis. 

adsignare:   Ep.  54,   1  morbo  quasi  adsignatus  sum. 

advocare:  Ep.  17,  2  (see  consiUum).  Ep.  22,  5  (see  consilium) .  Ep. 
29,  5  facetias.  Ep.  48,  8  ad  miseros  advocatus  es.  Ep.  91,  5  (fortuna) 
nostras  in  nos  manus  advocat.  Ep.  94,  24  licet  (philosophia)  totas  in  hoc 
vires  suas  advocet.  In  Ep.  43,  5  bona  conscientia  turbam  advocat,  there 
is  no  trace  of  the  technical  meaning. 

advocatio.  Ep.  22,  11  ('postponement').  In  the  classical  period  this 
word  is  only  used  as  a  legal  term,  meaning  '  the  duty  of  an  advocatus' 
'  legal  assistance,'  '  counsel,'  or,  by  metonymy,  '  time  allowed  for  obtain- 
ing legal  assistance,'  as  Cic.  Fam.  7,  11,  1.  Later,  by  further  transfer 
( shown  by  Lexx.  only  for  Seneca )  it  came  to  mean  '  delay,  adjournment ' 
of  any  kind;  cf.  Sen.  Dial.  4,  8,  1;  Dial.  6,  10,  4;  Q.  N.  7,  10,  1  (of 
comets ! ) . 

advocatus:  Ep.  94,  28  Numquid  rationem  exiges,  cum  tibi  aliquis  hoa 
dixerit  versus?  .  .  .  Advocatum  ista  non  quaerunt.  Ep.  94,  52  apparet 
opus  esse  nobis  aliquo  advocate,  qui  contra  populi  praecepta  praecipiat. 
Ep.  94,  59  bonae  mentis.  Ep.  108,  12  inicit  manum  veritas,  si  advocatum 
idoneum  nancta  est. 

agere  causam:  Ep.  30,  11  supervacuum  est  naturae  causam  agere.  Ep. 
83,  10  Posidonius  Zenonis  nostri  causam  agit. 

album  (i.  e.,  the  white  tablet  on  which  edicts  were  posted)  :  Ep.  59,  2 
voluptatem,  si  ad  nostrum  album  verba  derigamus,  rem  infamem.  Cf.  Ep. 
48,  10,  quoted  under  exceptio. 

arbiter:  Ep.  18,  3  arbitri  partibus  functus.  Ep.  65,  2  te  arbitrum 
addiximus. 

arbitra:  Ep.  66,  35  ratio  ergo  arbitra  est  bonorum  ac  malorum. 

arbitrium:  Ep.  13,  1  animus  ...  in  alienum  non  venturus  arbitrium. 
Ep.  71,  37  omnibus  oppressis  adfectibus  et  sub  arbitrium  suum  adductis. 
Ep.  74,  1  in  fortunae  venit  potestatem,  alieni  arbitrii  fit.  Ep.  120,  11  ilia 
beata  vita  .  .  .  arbitrii  sui  tota.  Ep.  124,  3  (sensibus)  tradidisti  adpe- 
titionis  et  fugae  arbitrium. 

calumniari:  Ep.  81,  25  non  calumniatur  (sapiens)  verba  nee  vultus. 
The  only  other  examples  of  this  verb  in  the  sense  'misrepresent,  put  an 
unfavorable  interpretation  upon,'  with  an  impersonal  object,  which  are 
cited  by  Lexx.,  are  Sen.  Dial.  9,  2,  1;  Quint.  2,  1,  12;  Tac.  H.  3,  75; 
and  Paul.  ap.  Dig.  10,  4,  19  (Dig.  10,  4,  10,  given  by  F-DV.,  is  a  false 
reference ) . 

circumscribere :  Ep.  108,  14  gulam  ac  ventrem.  Ep.  122,  3  eircumscri- 
batur  nox. 

circumscriptio :  Ep.  82,  22  quern  mortalium  circumscriptiones  vestrae 
fortiorem  facere  .  .  .  possunt?  Cf.  Ep.  97,  11  laetatur  ille  circumscrip- 


Laws  and  Courts  139 

tione  furtoque;  Sen.  Excerp.  Contr.  6,  3  circumscriptio  semper  crimen 
sub  specie  legis  involvit;  and  Quint.  Decl.  301  ubi  ergo  circumseriptio  est? 
Quam  quidem  legem  arbitror  propter  eos  maxime  latam,  qui  circa  forenses 
insidias  aliquem  scripto  callidiore  cepissent. 

citare:  Ep.  12,  6    (of  death)   non  enim  citamur  ex  censu. 

coarguere:  Ep.  28,  10  (see  under  depreliendere,  p.  144).  Ep.  97,  16 
coarguit  illos  conscientia. 

consilium:  Ep.  17,  2  advoca  illam  (i.  e.,  philosophiam )  in  consilium. 
Ep.  22,  5  si  in  consilium  non  venio  tantum,  sed  advoco  .  .  .  prudentiores. 
Ep.  67,  10  quicquid  honeste  fit,  una  virtus  facit,  sed  ex  consilii  sententia. 

constituere:  Ep.  20,  13  naturam  nobis  minimum  constituisse.  Ep.  91, 
15  indignare,  si  quid  in  te  iniqui  proprie  constitutum  est.  Ep.  124,  4 
(ratio)  de  bono  maloque  constituit. 

eontroversia :  Ep.  110,  18  (quoted  from  Attalus)  lovi  ipsi  controversiam 
de  felicitate  faciamus. 

decernere:  Ep.  70,  14  exitum,  quern  natura  decrevit.  Ep.  96,  1  decer- 
nuntur  ista  (i.  e.,  sickness,  etc.),  non  accidunt. 

decretorius:  Ep.  102,  24  horam  illam  decretoriam  (i.  e.,  the  hour  of 
death).  Cf.  Ep.  117,  25,  cited  under  "The  Arena,"  p.  74;  and  Sen.  Clem. 
1,  14,  1  (stilus).  The  only  other  authors  cited  for  this  word  by  Lexx. 
are  the  elder  Pliny  and  Quintilian.  "  Scrib.  Comp.  57,"  given  by  F-DV., 
is  a  false  reference,  and  I  have  been  unable  to  find  any  instance  in 
Scribonius. 

decretum:  Ep.  94,  sectt.  2  (philosophiae)  ;  4;  8;  48.  Ep.  95,  sectt.  9 
artes  .  .  .  habent  decreta  sua;  10;  11;  12;  34;  44  ergo  infigi  debet 
persuasio  ad  totam  pertinens  vitam:  hoc  est,  quod  decretum  voco;  46; 
58;  60  (four  examples,  including  decreta  sapientiae,  id  est  dogmata);  61 
(three  examples,  including  decreta,  quae  veritatem  argumentis  colligunt)  ; 
62;  63.  Though  borrowed  from  legislation,  this  had  become  a  regular 
t.  t.  of  the  philosophers. 

delegare:  Ep.  18,  14  "  Prius,"  inquis,  "redde  quod  debes."  Delegabo 
te  ad  Epicurum;  cf.  Sen.  Ben.  4,  11,  3  (naufragus)  debitores  nobis  deos 
delegat.  Ep.  120,  12  quicquid  inciderat,  non  tamquam  malum  aspernatus 
est  et  in  se  casu  delatum,  sed  quasi  delegatum  sibi.  Note  the  word-play 
in  the  participles.  As  a  business  term,  delegare  is  defined  by  Ulpian  in 
Dig.  46,  2,  11  delegare  est  vice  sua  alium  reum  dare  creditori,  vel  cui 
iusserit.  Fit  autem  delegatio  vel  per  stipulationem  vel  per  litis  contesta- 
tionem.  See  Antib.7,  i,  p.  411. 

delegatio:  Ep.  27,  4  delegationem  res  ista  (i.  e.,  the  joy  attained  through 
virtue)  non  recipit.  This  noun  is  given  by  Lexx.  in  a  tropical  sense  only 
here;  in  a  literal  sense,  only  in  Cic.  Att.  12,  3,  2  and  Sen.  Ben.  6,  5,  2. 

deliberare:  Ep.  81,  28  res,  de  quibus  non  cum  fama,  sed  cum  rerum 
natura  deliberandum  est. 

denuntiare:  Ep.  70,  11  cum  mortem  vis  externa  denuntiat. 

denuntiatio:  Ep.  67,  14  nihil  habere,  .  .  .  cuius  denuntiatione  et  incursu 
firmitatem  animi  tui  temptes. 


140  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

deprecator :   Ep.  28,  10    (see  under  deprehendere,  p.  144). 

detrimentum :  Ep.  71,  10  olim  provisum  est,  ne  quid  Cato  detriment! 
caperet;  i.  e.,  Cato  of  Utica  could  not  be  harmed  by  the  disaster  that 
befell  his  party. 

dicio:    Ep.  39,   3  extra  ius  dicionemque  fortunae. 

dictare:    Ep.   121,  21   sine  ulla  cogitatione,   quae  hoc  dictet. 

dies:  Ep.  94,  52  huic  quaestioni  suum  diem  dabimus.  Ep.  95,  1  petis 
a  me,  ut  id,  quod  in  diem  suum  dixeram  debere  differri,  repraesentem. 

dominium:  Ep.  66,  23  (see  servus,  p.  67).  Ep.  90,  27  alias  .  .  .  artes 
sub  dominio  habet  (sapientia).  Ep.  92,  32  hunc  (sc.  animum)  inponere 
dominio  rerum  omnium.  Except  as  a  legal  term  the  word  is  rare. 

erogare:  Ep.  49,  5  in  supervacua  maiorem  partem  (temporis)  erogare. 
Cf.  Pliny,  Ep.  ad  Trai.  110  (111),  2  (prope  totas  facultates),  which  is 
the  only  example  given  by  Lexx.  of  this  tropical  use  of  the  verb.  It  is 
properly  applied  to  the  officially  authorized  expenditure  of  public  funds, 
and  its  transfer  even  to  the  sphere  of  private  expenditure  is  comparatively 
rare  outside  of  the  Digest. 

exceptio:  Ep.  6,  4  si  cum  hac  exceptione  detur  sapientia.  Ep.  30,  10 
vita  enim  cum  exceptione  mortis  data  est.  Ep.  48,  10  hac  ad  summum 
bonum  itur  ?  Per  istud  philosophiae  "  sive  nive "  et  turpes  inf amesque 
etiam  ad  album  sedentibus  exceptiones?  Ep.  57,  9  nulla  inmortalitas 
cum  exceptione  est. 

ferre:   Ep.  74,  28  virtus  .  .  .  fert  leges. 

formula:  Ep.  6,  6  an  ex  formula  sua  viveret  (Zeno).  Ep.  48,  10  quid 
enim  aliud  agitis,  cum  eum,  quern  interrogatis,  scientes  in  fraudem  indu- 
citis,  quam  ut  formula  cecidisse  videatur? 

indicere:  Ep.  5,  2  indictum  argento  odium.  Ep.  51,  2  ulli  loco  indi- 
cendum  est  odium?  Ep.  55,  1  debilitatem  nobis  indixere  deliciae.  Ep. 
79,  17  (omnibus  livor  silentium).  Ep.  108,  12  odium  pecuniae  indicunt. 
Ep.  123,  5  (sibi  patientiam ) . 

intercedere:  Ep.  30,  4  nil  habet  quod  speret,  quern  senectus  ducit  ad 
mortem.  Huic  uni  intercedi  non  potest.  See  Antib.7,  I,  p.  766.  Cf. 
intercessor,  under  "  Wealth,  Property,  etc.,"  p.  106. 

interdicere:  Ep.  87,  17  medicina  et  gubernatio  non  interdicit  sibi  ac 
suis  admiratione  talium  rerum.  In  Ep.  123,  10  several  editors,  including 
Haase,  read  "  interdicere,"  but  the  text  is  very  uncertain ;  see  Schweig- 
hauser's  Notae  and  Hense's  ap.  crit.,  with  his  own  conjecture. 

iudex:  Ep.  28,  10  (see  under  deprehendere,  p.  144).  Ep.  65,  10  fer 
ergo  iudex  sententiam  et  pronuntia;  cf.  te  arbitrum  in  sect.  2  and  fer  sen- 
tentiam  in  sect.  15.  Ep.  81,  4  rectam  illam  rigidi  iudicis  sententiam.  Ep. 
81,  6  alter  ille  remissior  iudex,  quern  esse  me  malo.  Ep.  124,  3  sensibus, 
id  est  iudicibus  boni  ac  mali. 

iudicare:  Ep.  14,  16  (see  sententia) .  Ep.  26,  5  de  me  iudicaturus  sum. 
Ep.  66,  35  de  bonis  ac  malis  sensus  non  iudicat.  Ep.  87,  40  litigare  de 
verbis,  quasi  iam  de  rebus  iudicatum  sit.  Ep.  124,  5  de  summo,  bono  malo, 
iudicat  tactus. 

iudicium:   Ep.  26,  6,  continuing  the  metaphor  in  26,  5    (see  iudicare). 


Laws  and  Courts  141 

Ep.  46,  3  mine  parum  mihi  sedet  iudicium  (de  libro).  Ep.  121,  1  (see 
Utigare ) . 

iurare:  Ep.  12,  11  qui  in  verba  iurant,  nee  quid  dicatur  aestimant, 
sed  a  quo. 

ius:  Ep.  11,  7  sui  iuris  sunt,  iniussa  veniunt,  iniussa  discedunt.  Seneca 
is  fond  of  using  this  legal  phrase  (cf.,  for  example,  Gaius,  Inst.  1,  48; 
Ulp.  Frag.  4,  1;  Dig.  46,  2,  20;  Cod.  lust.  8,  47,  10,  sect.  3)  in  a  tropical 
sense.  Other  instances  are,  Ep.  88,  27  non  est  autem  ars  sui  iuris  (Pauly 
renders  "  selbststandig " )  ;  94,  74  otium  lene  et  sui  iuris;  99,  15  quae- 
dam  sunt  sui  iuris  (translated  by  Haakh  "  ausser  unserer  Willkiihr"); 
Ben.  3,  20  1  corpora  obnoxia  sunt  et  adscripta  dominis,  mens  quidem  sui 
iuris;  Dial.  43  123  3  tarn  feri  et  sui  iuris  adfectus;  ib.  10,  5,  3  sapiens 
.  .  .  numquam  semiliber  erit,  integrae  semper  libertatis  et  solidae,  solutus 
et  sui  iuris  et  altior  ceteris;  N.  Q.  7,  12,  2  non  illarum  coitu  fieri  cometen, 
sed  proprium  et  sui  iuris  esse;  Oct.  383  liber  animus  et  sui  iuris;  cf.  Ep. 
120,  11  vita  .  .  .  arbitrii  sui  tota.  Outside  of  Seneca  this  usage  is  rare, 
the  only  examples  given  by  Lexx.  being  Cic.  Verr.  (2),  1,  7,  18  quod  eos 
in  iudicando  nimium  sui  iuris  sententiaeque  cognosset  (which  are  not 
Cicero's  own  words,  but  in  a  quotation ) ,  and  Brutus  ap.  Cic.  Ep.  ad  Brut. 
1,  16,  4  ut  esset  sui  iuris  ac  mancipii  respublica.  Aem.  Thomas,  in 
Hermes  28  (1893),  p.  302,  suggests  "  se  sui  iuris  servat "  as  a  possible 
emendation  for  "  se  virtus  servat,"  in  Ep.  92,  2  (Haase),  where  Hense  has 
"  secures  servat."  Somewhat  akin  to  this  phrase  are  Ep.  16,  5  quid  sit 
iuris  nostri,  si  providentia  in  imperio  est,  and  77,  15  fac  tui  iuris,  quod 
alieni  est.  Instances  of  suo  iure  (on  which  see  Antib.7,  i,  p.  807)  are, 
Ep.  44,  6  id  bonum  est  suo  iure;  71,  5  omnia  incommoda  suo  iure  bona 
vocabuntur;  95,  65  (causarum  inquisitionem )  grammatici  .  .  .  suo  iure 
ita  (i.  e.,  aetiologian)  appellent;  116,  3  suo  veniat  iure  (voluptas), 
luxuria  est.  Other  examples  of  ius  in  a  metaphorical  sense  are:  Ep.  18,  1 
ius  luxuriae  publicae  datum  est.  Ep.  36,  6  in  mores  fortuna  ius  non 
habet;  39,  3  (see  dido)  ;  57,  3  in  quern  fortuna  ius  perdidit;  91,  15 
adversus  imperia  illam  (i.  e.,  fortunam)  idem  habere  iuris  quod  adversus 
imperantes.  Ep.  51,  8  idem  sibi  in  me  iuris  esse  volet  et  ambitio  et  ira. 
Ep.  65,  22  animus  ad  se  omne  ius  ducet.  Ep.  74,  29  ex  publico  et  spatioso 
iure  .  .  .  coit  (virtus).  Ep.  85,  11  si  das  aliquid  iuris  tristitiae.  Ep. 
91,  16  (humanum).  Ep.  106,  2  dubitavi  utrum  differrem  te,  donee  suus 
isti  rei  veniret  locus,  an  ius  tibi  extra  ordinem  dicerem.  Ep.  107,  6 
aequum.  Ep.  114,  1  translationis.  Ep.  116,  2  da  ius  lacrimis  tarn  iuste 
cadentibus.  Ep.  119,  15  (mundi  conditor)  nobis  vivendi  iura  discripsit; 
cf.  Sen.  Oct.  163  iura  naturae.  Ep.  123,  16  mors  ...  ius  aecum  generis 
humani. 

lex:  Ep.  20,  2  ad  legem  suam  quisque  vivat.  Ep.  25,  4  ad  legem  naturae 
revertamur;  similarly,  30,  11.  Ep.  48,  9  quam  faciles  <  leges >  posu- 
erit  (natura).  Ep.  63,  15  incerta  lege  mortalia.  Ep.  70,  14  nihil  melius 
aeterna  lex  fecit.  Ep.  71,  16  quicquid  lex  universi  iubet.  Ep.  77,  12 
ad  hanc  legem  natus  es.  Ep.  90,  4  eundem  habebant  et  ducem  et  legem. 
Ep.  90,  34  vitae.  Ep.  91,  15  mundum,  in  quo  his  legibus  vivitur.  Ep. 


142  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

91,  16  omnium,  quae  terram  premunt,  siremps  lex  esto.  Note  that  siremps 
is  also  a  legal  t.  t.  Ep.  94,  7  in  morte,  quam  pati  lex  est.  Ep.  94,  15 
leges  .  .  .  philosophiae.  Ep.  94,  39  philosophia  non  vitae  lex  est?  Ep. 
95,  57  totius  vitae  leges.  Ep.  101,  5  volvitur  tempus  rata  quidem  lege. 
Ep.  107,  9  ad  hanc  legem  animus  noster  aptandus  est.  Ep.  108,  6  vitae. 
Ep.  114,  3  (ab  animo)  legem  petit  (ingenium). 

liquere:    Ep.   65,   15    (see  sententia) . 

lis:  Ep.  13,  5  res  in  controversia  est  et  litem  contestatam  habemus. 
Ep.  65,  2  partem  .  .  .,  quae  in  lite  est  .  .  .  triplex  causa  est.  Ep.  117,  1 
in  magnam  me  litem  .  .  .  inpinges. 

litigare:  Ep.  22,  10  non  oderunt,  sed  litigant.  Ep.  51,  13  cum  Bais  .  .  . 
cum  vitiis.  Ep.  87,  40  (see  iudicare).  Ep.  121,  1  litigabis  .  .  .  alios 
opponam,  cum  quibus  litiges,  .  .  . :  hi  iudicium  accipient.  Ep.  123,  5 
si  non  excanduit,  non  litigavit.  According  to  Lexx.,  the  original  meaning 
is  '  quarrel,'  but  the  third  and  fourth  of  these  examples  show  that  Seneca 
felt  the  legal  application  which  it  acquired.  Cf.  Antib.7,  n,  p.  27  f.,  on 
litigatio,  litigator,  and  litigium. 

locuples :  Ep.  58,  6   ( see  under  "  Farming,"  p.  86 ). 

manum  inicere :   see  under  "  The  Body  and  its  Parts,"  p.  33. 

notor:  Ep.  39,  1  qui  notorem  dat,  ignotus  est.  The  context  is  that 
Seneca  does  not  wish  to  be  asked  who  are  his  authorities  for  statements. 
Notor,  '  one  who  knows  a  person,  voucher,  witness,'  is  given  by  Lexx.  only 
here;  Petr.  92;  Sen.  Apoc.  7,  4;  and  Inscr.  Orell.  4957.  The  phrase  looks 
like  a  proverbial  one,  but  is  not  mentioned  by  Otto  or  his  successors. 

patrocinium:  Ep.  83,  17  falsum  .  .  .  est  hoc,  quod  patrocinii  loco 
ponitur.  Pauly  renders,  "  Beweisgrund "  and  Baillard,  "  assertion  de 
plaidoirie."  In  the  transferred  sense,  *  a  plea  in  court,'  Lexx.  give  ex- 
amples from  Cic.,  Livy,  and  Quint.,  and  F-DV.  includes  Ov.  P.  1,  2,  69 
suscipe,  Romanae  facundia,  Maxime,  linguae  |  difficilis  causae  mite  patro- 
cinium. Cf.  patrocinari  in  Antib.7,  n,  p.  258.  Ep.  116,  2  nullum  est 
vitium  sine  patrocinio. 

perrogare:  Ep.  102,  13  idem  potest  una  sententia,  quod  omnium,  quia 
omnium,  si  perrogetur,  una  erit.  .  This  sense,  '  ask  one  after  another,' 
which  is  probably  not  ante- Augustan,  is  found  in  Livy,  29,  19,  10;  Tac. 
H.  4,  9;  and  Suet.  Aug.  35.  In  Val.  Max.  1,  2,  ext.  1  it  means  'carry- 
through,  pass  (a  law)  ';  as  also  id.  8,  6,  4  and  Lamprid.  Commod. 
(=Scrr.  Hist.  Aug.,  Peter,  vii)  19,  3  and  8. 

placitum:  Ep.  95,  10  (given  as  an  equivalent  for  Sby/jara).  Ep.  95, 
37  philosophiae  placita. 

praescribere :   Ep.  122,  19  via  .  .  .,  quam  natura  praescripserit. 

pronuntiare:  Ep.  26,  6  mors  de  te  pronuntiatura  est.  Ep.  65,  10  (see 
index).  '  Ep.  124,  4  de  bono  pronuntiet  sensus. 

restituere:  Ep.  98,  14  licet  reverti  in  viam,  licet  in  integrum  restitui: 
restituamur. 

scitum:  Ep.  94,  47  scita  sapientiae.  Ep.  95,  10  (given  as  an  equivalent 
for  567 fjLa.ro.}. 

sententia:   Ep.  13,  13  si  plures  habet  sententias    ('votes')    metus.     Ep. 


Laws  and  Courts  143 

14,  16  fortuna  iudicat,  cui  de  me  sententiam  non  do.  Ep.  26,  4  ille  laturus 
sententiam  de  omnibus  annis  meis  dies.  Ep.  58,  32  feremus  sententiam; 
similarly  66,  35  (in  connection  with  iudicare)  ;  71,  22  (de  virtute)  ;  112, 
4  (de  illo);  113,  25  (de  ista  re).  Ep.  65,  15  aut  fer  sententiam  aut, 
quod  facilius  in  eiusmodi  rebus  est,  nega  tibi  liquere  et  nos  reverti  iube. 
Ep.  102,  11  pars  utraque  sententias  habet.  Ep.  102,  13  (three  times). 
Ep.  124,  4  vilissimae  parti  datur  de  meliore  sententia. 

spondere:  Ep.  19,  1  (epistulae)  non  promittunt  de  te,  sed  spondent. 
Ep.  98,  8  fortuitorum  constantiam. 

sponsor :  Ep.  82,  1  "  quern,"  inquis,  "  deorum  sponsorem  accepisti  ? " 
Ep.  97,  15  (conscientia)  sponsoribus  securitatis  suae  non  potest  credere. 

tabulae:    Ep.    114,    13   multi  .  .  .  duodecim   tabulas    loquuntur. 

testari:   Ep.  87,  4  mulae  vivere  se  ambulando  testantur. 

testimonium:   Ep.  88,  24  geometriae  testimonio  statur. 

testis:  Ep.  20,  9  Demetrius  .  .  .  non  praeceptor  veri,  sed  testis  est. 
Ep.  43,  5  o  te  miserum,  si  contemnis  hunc  testem  (i.  e.,  yourself)  !  Ep. 
114,  25  sumministrator  libidinum  testisque. 

vindicare:  Ep.  1,  1  vindica  te  tibi.  Ep.  8,  1  partem  noctium  studiis 
vindico.  Ep.  19,  4  quietem.  Ep.  33,  4  sibi  quisque  (sc.  Stoicus)  se 
vindicat.  Ep.  65,  1  antemeridianum  ilia  (i.  e.,  mala  valetudo)  sibi  vin- 
dicavit.  Ep.  88,  24  liberalium  artium  turba  locum  sibi  in  philosophia 
vindicat.  Ep.  95,  7  (ventum)  dubium  communemque  tibi  vindica.  Ep. 
97,  14  scelus,  licet  illud  fortuna  .  .  .  tueatur  ac  vindicet.  Ep.  113,  23 
sibi  quisque  se  vindicet.  In  Ep.  95,  29  utinam  sic  ...  lues  ista  vindi- 
cetur,  we  have  a  different  meaning  of  the  word. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  48,  10  quemadmochim  illos  praetor,  sic 
hos  philosophia  IN  INTEGRUM  RESTITUIT.  Ep.  54,  3,  it  is  as 
foolish  to  consider  the  cessation  of  an  attack  of  the  asthma  as 
a  complete  recovery,  as  it  would  be  for  one  who  has  secured  a 
POSTPONEMENT  of  his  case  to  consider  that  he  has  won  it. 
Ep.  81,  26,  as  a  tie  vote  means  ACQUITTAL,  so  the  philosopher 
will  let  benefits  outweigh  injuries,  when  they  are  equal.  Ep. 
94,  27,  some  things  are  believed  on  authority,  without  proof, 
like  the  opinions  rendered  by  LEGAL  ADVISEES.  Ep.  94,  47 
(the  doctrines  of  wisdom  compared  to  a  PUBLIC  ORDINANCE). 
In  Ep.  97,  10-11  the  ADVOCATE  is  one  of  a  series  of  illustra- 
tions of  the  statement  that  the  ethical  sphere  is  the  only  one 
in  which  men  are  not  ashamed  of  their  errors.  In  Ep.  109, 
14  the  advocate  and  the  LAWYER  form  part  of  a  series  of 
illustrations  already  cited  under  "  Medicine  and  Surgery/7  p. 
102.  Ep.  15,  7,  where  "  LITIGANTES  "  are  taken  as  an  illus- 
tration of  natural  modulation  of  the  voice,  may  also  belong  here. 


144  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 


(c)    CRIMES  AND  PENALTIES 

ablegare:  Ep.  94,  47  (praecepta  sapientiae)  quae  adfectus  nostros  .  .  . 
coercent  et  ablegant. 

auferre:   Ep.   104,  12  alii  auferuntur,  at  ipsi  nobis  furto  subducimur. 

career:  Ep.  57,  1  (applied  to  the  "  crypta  Neapolitana " ) .  Ep.  82,  16 
infernus. 

catena:  Ep.  26,  10  una  est  catena,  quae  nos  alligatos  tenet,  amor  vitae. 

circumscriptio :   see  under  "Laws  and  Courts,"  p.  138. 

claudere:  Ep.  76,  25  (animas)  clausas  et  opsessas  (contrasted  with 
those  liberis  et  in  universum  datis ) . 

coercere:    Ep.  94,  47    (see  ablegare). 

compilare:   Ep.   32,  4  vota  illorum  multos  compilant. 

coniurare:  Ep.  14,  11  nequitia  .  .  .  contra  virtutes  coniurabitur. 

conpescere  (comp-)  :  Ep.  89,  18  (mores,  object).  Ep.  121,  4  (volup- 
tates,  object).  According  to  H.  Lex.,  the  word  is  derived  from  compes 
and  is  "  mostly  poet,  or  in  post- Aug.  prose "  and  "  not  in  Cic."  The 
MSS.  at  Cic.  Rab.  Perd.  6,  18  give  "  continetis  vocem "  instead  of  "  com- 
pescitis  vocem"  as  quoted  by  Quint.  11,  3,  169. 

constringere :  Ep.  89,  18  soluta  constringe.  Ep.  117,  19  certa  lege  con- 
stricta  sint.  The  tropical  use  of  this  word  is  quite  common  in  Cicero, 
but  sporadic  elsewhere.  Examples  are  cited  by  Lexx.  from  Livy,  Curtius, 
Lucan,  Quintilian,  Tacitus,  the  Vulgate,  and  Lactantius. 

converberare :   Ep.   121,  4    (vitia,  object). 

cruciare:  Ep.  74,  2  amore  cruciari.  Most  of  the  examples  given  by 
Lexx.  for  the  transfer  of  this  verb  to  the  mental  sphere  are  poetic. 
Although  Cicero  uses  cruciare  and  the  noun  cruciatus  freely  of  physical 
sufferings,  and  there  are  several  examples  in  his  philosophical  writings  of 
their  transfer  to  mental  distress  (cf.  Cic.  Att.  8,  15,  2,  and  Cic.  fil.  ap. 
Cic.  Fam.  16,  21,  2),  the  only  instances  of  their  clearly  tropical  appli- 
cation in  the  Orations,  given  by  Merguet,  are  Cat.  4,  5,  10  omnis  animi 
cruciatus  et  corporis  etiam  egestas  .  .  .  consequatur,  and  Mur.  41,  88 
(mater)  cruciatur  et  sollicita  est.  Meusel  shows  no  example  of  either 
word  in  Caesar. 

custodia:  ('confinement'):  Ep.  65,  16  (in  connection  with  poena,  liber- 
tas,  and  evagatio).  Ep.  79,  12  (animus)  hac  custodia  exsolvatur. 

custodire:  Ep.  63,  3  custodis  dolorem  tuum.  Sed  custodienti  quoque 
elabitur.  Ep.  70,  24  in  aperto  nos  natura  custodit.  For  use  in  a  different 
sense,  see  p.  79. 

damnare:  Ep.  71,  15  humanum  genus  .  .  .  morte  damnatum  est.  Ep. 
91,  12  omnia  mortalium  opera  mortalitate  damnata  sunt.  Ep.  95,  21  dam- 
natae  sunt  morbis  virilibus.  Ep.  97,  16  (rem)  quam  natura  damnavit. 

deprehendere :  Ep.  18,  8  ne  inparatos  fortuna  deprehendat.  Ep.  28,  9 
deprehendas  te  oportet.  The  metaphor  is  carried  on  in  sect.  10  by  coargue, 
inquire  in  te,  accusatoris,  iudicis,  and  deprecatoris.  Ep.  43,  4  sic  vivimus, 


Crimes  and  Penalties  145 

ut  deprehendi  sit  subito  aspici.  Ep.  86,  16  hoc  quod  mihi  hodie  necesse 
fuit  deprehendere,  adscribam. 

discruciare:   Ep.  115,  16    (sollicitudines,  subject). 

distorquere:  Ep.  74,  2  quern  repulsa  distorqueat.  The  only  other  ex- 
ample of  this  verb  transferred  to  the  mental  sphere,  given  by  Lexx.,  is 
Petr.  55  (Trimalchio)  non  diu  cogitatione  distorta  haec  recitavit. 

eculeus:   Ep.  19,  9  dictum  Maecenatis  vera  in  ipso  eculeo  elocuti. 

flagellare:    Ep.   97,   15   mala  facinora  conscientia  flagellari. 

furtum:   Ep.   104,   12    (see  auferre) . 

laqueus:  Ep.  48,  8;  but  the  reading  is  doubtful.     See  Hense's  ap.  crit. 

noxa:  Ep.  104,  28  triginta  tyrannis  noxae  dedita  est  civitas. 

poena:  Ep.  65,  16  corpus  hoc  animi  pondus  et  poena  est.  Ep.  83,  27 
(voluptates)  ubi  transcenderunt  modum,  poenas  esse.  Ep.  97,  14  maxima 
peccantium  est  poena  peccasse,  .  .  .  et  hae  illam  secundae  poenae  premunt 
ac  secuntur,  timere  semper. 

relegare:  Ep.  55,  5  qui  res  et  homines  fugit,  quern  cupiditatum  suarum 
infelicitas  relegavit. 

supplicium:  Ep.  87,  24  maximum  scelerum  supplicium  in  ipsis  est  (re- 
sumed by  puniuntur  in  the  next  section)  ;  similarly,  97,  14. 

tormentum:  Ep.  4,  5  vitae  tormenta.  Ep.  63,  4  quod  non  sine  tor- 
mento  cogitaturus  est.  Ep.  83,  21  stomachi  tormenta.  Ep.  91,  8  tormenta 
morbi.  Ep.  97,  15  plurimum  illi  (i.  e.,  conscientiae )  tormentorum  esse 
eo,  quod  perpetua  illam  sollicitudo  urget  ac  verberat.  Ep.  99,  30  nee  ex 
eo  potest  ei  (i.  e.,  the  dead  son  of  Mareellus)  tormentum  esse,  quod  non 
est.  Ep.  104,  3  spiritus  .  .  .  vel  cum  tormento  revocandus.  Ep.  115,  16 
maiore  tormento  pecunia  possidetur.  Ep.  119,  14  infelicis  luxuriae  ista 
tormenta  sunt. 

torquere:  Ep.  49,  6  quid  te  torques  .  .  .  in  ea  quaestione?  Ep.  74,  34 
vis  scire  future  neminem  debere  torqueri?  Ep.  81,  23  torquet  ingratus  se. 
Ep.  95,  3  quos  uxor  .  .  .  torquet.  Ep.  116,  2  desiderio  amici  torquear. 
Ep.  119,  2,  it  makes  no  difference  whether  you  do  not  wish  for  a  thing 
or  whether  you  have  it;  in  either  case,  non  torqueberis.  Outside  of  Cicero, 
who  is  quite  fond  of  the  metaphor,  the  only  prose  authors  from  whom 
Lexx.  give  examples  of  torquere  '  torment,  rack,'  in  a  tropical  sense,  are 
Quintilian  and  the  younger  Pliny;  but  cf.  Val.  Max.  7,  6,  ext.  1;  9,  12, 
ext.  1;  Q.  Curt.  6,  5,  3;  Petr.  41;  Pliny,  N.  H.  2,  41.  For  a  different 
sense  of  the  word,  see  under  "  Words  indicating  General  Actions,"  p.  180. 

verberare:  Ep.  56,  4  (crepitus)  aures  implet  ac  verberat.  Ep.  83,  7 
vento  silvam  verberante.  Ep.  92,  31  splendore  (auri  et  argenti),  qua 
inperitorum  verberant  oculos.  Ep.  97,  15  (see  tormentum).  Ep.  115,  7 
falsa  lux  verberet.  Cf.  Dial.  1,  4,  12  verberat  nos  et  lacerat  fortuna. 


Comparisons:  Ep.  5,  7,  as  the  same  chain  binds  GUARD  and 
PRISONER,  so  hope  and  fear  go  together.  Ep.  14,  6,  as  the 
TORTURER  accomplishes  more  if  he  displays  more  of  his  im- 
plements, so  our  minds  are  more  influenced  by  things  which 


146  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

make  a  show;  51,  4  living  among  cook-shops  (popinas)  is  as 
undesirable  as  living  among  torturers.  Ep.  67,  4,  (incommoda 
compared  to  TORMENTA).  Ep.  78,  14  (sickness  compared  to 
being  tortured  on  the  ECULEUS).  Ep.  74,  34,  it  is  as  foolish 
to  allow  past  griefs  to  sadden  the  mind,  as  to  suffer  in  imagi- 
nation a  PUNISHMENT  threatened  fifty  years  in  advance;  91, 
5  (poena  coming  upon  the  innocent,  as  an  illustration  of  the 
sudden  assaults  of  fortuna)  ;  94,  44  si  inponit  pudorem  casti- 
gatio,  cur  admonitio  non  faciat?  Ep.  27,  2  (pleasures  com- 
pared to  CRIMES).  Ep.  14,  16  (a  ROBBER;  owing  to  a  defective 
text,  the  exact  character  of  the  comparison  is  uncertain;  for 
conjectures,  see  Hense's  ap.  crit,  and  cf.  Schweighaiiser's  note 
ad  loc.)  ;  51,  13,  pleasures,  like  robbers,  embrace  in  order  to 
throttle.  Ep.  68,  4,  if  you  desire  philosophic  retirement,  do 
not  make  a  profession  of  it ;  things  which  are  sealed  invite  the 
THIEF  ;  the  HOUSEBREAKER  passes  by  what  is  left  open. 

(d)    Civic  LIFE 

ambitus:  Ep.  95,  3  uxor  magno  ambitu  ducta.     See  Antib.7,  i,  p.  156. 

candidatus:  Ep.  118,  2  videre,  quam  multarum  rerum  candidatus  sit, 
et  non  suffragari. 

civis:   Ep.  120,  12  civem  esse  se  tmiversi. 

civitas:  Ep.  120,  4  hoc  verbum  ("analogia")  cum  Latini  grammatici 
civitate  donaverint  ...  in  civitatem  suam  redigendum. 

comitia:  Ep.  118,  3  tota  fortunae  comitia  transire.  The  metaphor  is 
carried  on  by  the  words  magna  ilia,  in  connection  with  the  simile  in  the 
next  section. 

condere:  Ep.  14,  14  humano  generi  iura  condenda.  According  to  H. 
Lex.,  this  word,  when  meaning  '  found,  establish,'  is  properly  applied  to 
cities,  etc.,  and  is  tropical  when  applied  to  laws,  etc.  The  only  authors 
cited  by  Lexx.  to  illustrate  the  latter  usage  are  Plautus,  Vergil  (A.,  fata 
and  aurea  saecula) ,  Livy,  the  elder  Pliny  (morem),  Phaedrus,  Lucan, 
Silius  Italicus,  and  Florus  ( disciplinam ) .  For  a  different  meaning,  see 
"  Life,  Death,  Burial,"  p.  39. 

conditor:  Ep.  83,  9  sectae.  Ep.  91,  16  (deus)  conditor  ille  iuris  humani. 
Ep.  95,  20  huius  scientiae  (i.  e.,  medicinae).  Ep.  119,  15  illo  mundi  con- 
ditore.  This  example  should  be  added  to  the  one  given  in  Antib.7,  i,  p.  320, 
s.  v.  condere. 

contio:  Ep.  38,  1  illis,  ut  ita  dicam,  contionibus,  ubi  qui  dubitat,  im- 
pellendus  est. 


Civic  Life  147 

convocare:  Ep.  68,  5  convocat  turbam,  quisquis  otio  suo  aliquam  fabu- 
lam  inposuit. 

desciscere:   Ep.  90,  19  a  natura  luxuria  descivit. 

immunitas:    Ep.    96,   2    (see    tributum) . 

inmunis  (imm-)  :  Ep.  85,  3  animum  inmunem  esse  tristitia.  This 
tropical  sense  is  confined  to  poetry  and  post-Augustan  prose.  The  only 
other  examples  given  by  Lexx.  with  simple  Abl.  are  Veil.  2,  35,  3  (Cato 
vitiis)  ;  id.  2,  120,  3  (exercitum  calamitate)  ;  and  Sen.  Phaed.  105  (metu). 
Add  Sen.  Oct.  414  f.  (vomere  terram).  It  is  also  construed  with  the 
Gen.,  as  Verg.  A.  12,  558  f.  (urbem  belli)  and  Veil.  2,  7,  2  ( delictorum )  ; 
ab  and  the  Abl.,  as  Veil.  2,  14,  3  (domus  ab  arbitris)  and  Sen.  Thy.  498  f. 
non  sit  a  vestris  malis  |  immune  caelum;  and  abs.,  as  Hor.  Od.  3,  23,  17 
(manus)  and  Sen.  Here.  Fur.  956  f.  inferna  nostros  regna  sensere  im- 
petus: |  immune  caelum  est.  Ep.  95,  18  immunes  .  ,  .  ab  istis  malis. 

liberare:  Ep.  23,  9  hanc  epistulam  liberare.  The  context  indicates  a 
reference  to  the  publicists'  use  of  the  word  with  agros,  publica,  etc., 
in  the  sense  '  exempt  from  taxes,'  with  a  possible  reminiscence,  also,  of 
the  expression  nomina  liberare,  '  settle  debts,'  as  Livy,  7,  21,  8. 

nobilis:  Ep.  44,  2  bona  mens  omnibus  patet,  omnes  ad  hoc  sumus 
nobiles.  Ep.  44,  5  animus  facit  nobilem. 

patria:  Ep.  28,  4  patria  mea  totus  hie  mundus  est.  The  sentiment  is 
a  favorite  one  with  Seneca;  cf.  Dial.  7,  20,  5;  9,  4,  4;  12,  9,  7;  Rem. 
Fort.  8,  1;  8,  2.  See  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  268.  Ep.  102,  21  humilem 
non  accipit  (animus  humanus)  patriam,  Ephesum  aut  Alexandrian!  .  .  .: 
patria  est  illi  quodcumque  suprema  et  universa  circuitu  suo  cingit,  etc.; 
see  also  under  res  publica. 

plebeius:  Ep.  119,  3  utrum  hie  panis  sit  plebeius  an  siligineus.  This 
may  be  tropical,  meaning  '  common ' ;  or  literal,  '  such  as  the  plebeians  eat.' 

plebs:  Ep.  110,  1  de  plebe  deos;  quoted  from  Ov.  M.  1,  595.  Cf.  Ov. 
Ibis,  81  plebs  superum,  and  Claud.  36,  271  Dryadum  de  plebe. 

populus:  Ep.  105,  6.  The  text  and  interpretation  are  somewhat  un- 
certain. See  Hense,  ap.  crit.  The  general  sense  is  given  by  Haakh's 
rendering,  "  aus  dem  Einen  macht  er  doch  eine  Menge,"  or,  perhaps 
better,  by  that  of  Baillard,  "  il  aura  un  peuple  de  confidents."  The  latter 
cites  as  a  parallel,  "  Et  que  je  dois  compter  que  dans  fort  peu  de  jours  | 
J'aurai  pour  confidents  la  ville  et  les  faubourgs,"  from  Destouches'  "  Philo- 
sophe  marie  "  n,  sc.  2. 

privatus:  Ep.  118,  4  hoc  est  privatam  facere  fortunam.  Baillard  para- 
phrases, "  Voila  detroner  1'aveugle  deesse." 

publicare:  Ep.  51,  4  alia,  quae  .  .  .  luxuria  non  tantum  peccat,  sed 
publicat. 

publice:  Ep.  7,  7  in  quos  (mores)  publice  factus  est  impetus.  Ep.  91,  2 
quos  publice  adflixit  (fortuna).  Ep.  94,  7  quicquid  publice  expavimus. 
Ep.  95,  30  publice  furimus;  cf.  Pliny,  N.  H.  2,  175  publicos  gentium 
furores. 

publicus:  Ep.  3,  1  si  proprio  illo  verbo  ("amicus")  quasi  publico  usus 
es.  In  the  tropical  sense  '  common,  general,'  publicus  is  rather  rare  and 


148  Metaphor  and   Comparison  in  Seneca 

chiefly  poetic  outside  of  Seneca,  who  often  employs  it  thus.  The  other 
examples  in  Lexx.  are  Hor.  Od.  2,  8,  7  (cura)  and  Ep.  2,  1,  92  (usus)  ; 
Ov.  F.  4,  13,  5  (structura  carminis)  and  4,  14,  56  (favor);  id.  M.  2,  35 
(lux);  id  Am.  3,  7,  12  (verba)  ;  id.  A.  A.  1,  144  (verba)  :  Petr.  Sat.  3 
serrno  non  publici  saporis;  Pers.  5,  98  (lex)  ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  10,  97  publi- 
cum  quidem  omnium  (avium)  est,  .  .  .  eligere  (several  other  examples 
might  have  been  cited  for  this  author)  ;  Vulg.  Gen.  23,  16  (moneta; 
*  current  money');  Boeth.  Arist.  Top.  8,  p.  731  oratio  est  manifesta  uno 
quidem  modo  et  publicissimo  (translating  Aristotle's  ?j>a  i&v  rpbirov  /cai 
Svjfj.oo-i&TaToj').  Ep.  5,  5  inter  bonos  mores  et  publicos.  Ep.  8,  8  Epicuri 
voces  .  .  .,  non  publicas;  similarly,  21,  9.  Ep.  59,  1  (verba);  similarly, 
79,  6.  Ep.  70,  2  finis  generis  humani.  Ep.  71,  15  fata.  Ep.  73,  7  nee 
quicquam  suum  credit  esse,  quod  publicum  est.  Ep.  75,  7  (morbus).  Ep. 
81,  29  cum  singulorum  error  publicum  fecerit,  singulorum  errorem  facit 
publicus.  Ep.  83,  22  ebrietas.  Ep.  88,  12  publicum  est  et  quidem  generis 
humani.  Ep.  89,  18  cupiditates.  Ep.  90,  38  (opes).  Ep.  94,  17  inter 
insaniam  publicam  et  hanc,  quae  medicis  traditur,  nihil  interest,  nisi,  etc.; 
cf.  Hor.  Ep.  1,  1,  101  ff.  Ep.  94,  68  error.  Ep.  95,  1  verbum;  of  a 
proverb.  Ep.  103,  5  (mores);  similarly,  114,  2.  Ep.  114,  2  (luxuria). 
Ep.  116,  7  (vox).  Ep.  117,  6  (persuasio).  Ep.  122,  9  dies.  Ep.  123,  6 
(error). 

res  publica:  Ep.  47,  14  domum  pusillam  rem  publicam  esse  iudicaverunt. 
Ep.  68,  2  sapienti  rem  publicam  ipso  dignam  dedimus,  id  est  mundum. 

seditio:  Ep.  56,  8  animus  illi  obstrepit.  Hie  placandus  est,  huius  con- 
pescenda  seditio  est. 

suffragari:   Ep.   118,  2    (see  candidatus). 

suffragium:  Ep.  52,  10  feratis  de  meliore  suffragium.  Ep.  102,  11 
claritas  desiderat  multa  suffragia. 

tributum:  Ep.  20,  8  ad  hoc  pertinebit  tributum  huius  epistulae.  Ep. 
73,  9  multiplex  belli  tributum.  Ep.  96,  2  omnia  autem,  ad  quae  gemimus 
.  .  .  tributa  vitae  sunt:  horum,  .  .  .  nee  speraveris  immunitatem  nee 
petieris.  Ep.  107,  6  mortalitatis  tributa  pendamus. 

turba:  Ep.  81,  8  unus  e  turba  (proverbial;  cf.  Ep.  10,  3  unus  e  populo, 
and  93,  5  unus  e  multis ;  and  see  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  358,  s.  v. 
unus). 

Comparisons :  Ep.  3,  1  '  you  called  him  amicus  as  we  call  all 
CANDIDATES  ~boni  viri/  Ep.  66,  25-26  (LOVE  FOE  NATIVE 
LAND),  Ulysses  was  as  eager  for  the  rocks  of  Ithaca  as  Aga- 
memnon for  the  renowned  walls  of  Mycenae ;  so,  when  there  is 
equal  virtue  in  two  men,  other  differences  are  not  worthy  of 
notice.  Ep.  71,  15,  Cato  is  represented  as  comparing  his  own 
death  to  the  fate  of  CITIES;  90,  43  (merely  formal)  'houses 
as  large  as  cities ' ;  91,  17  (the  fate  of  men  compared  to  that 


Civic  Life  149 

of  cities).  Ep.  91,  16,  cities,  like  their  CITIZENS,  must  pass 
away.  Ep.  73,  8,  from  the  CONGIAEIUM  and  the  VISCEEATIO 
('  public  distribution  of  meat ')  each  one  can  receive  only  the 
small  portion  which  is  within  his  reach,  but  all  the  blessings 
of  peace  and  liberty  belong  to  each  individual  as  much  as  to 
the  mass;  114,  24  (the  passions  compared  to  the  people  exult- 
ing over  PUBLIC  LAEGESSES).  Ep.  89,  2,  philosophy  is  divided 
into  parts,  as  the  people  into  TEIBES,  without  destroying  organic 
unity.  Ep.  91,  5  (TUMULTUS  attacking  secretissimos,  as  an 
illustration  of  sudden  assaults  of  fortuna). 


II.    THE    REALM    OF    NATURE 


While  in  the  aggregate  the  number  of  metaphors  and 
comparisons  which  the  Epistulae  Morales  derive  from  the 
phenomena  of  the  world  of  nature  is  fairly  large,  yet  their 
proportion  to  those  which  we  have  found  connected  with  human 
characteristics  and  activities  is  less  than  one  to  twelve.  This 
is  quite  in  accordance  with  the  comparative  unresponsiveness 
of  the  ancient  imagination  toward  natural  objects;  on  which 
see  Friedlander's  chapter  on  "  Das  Interesse  fur  Natur  und  das 
Naturgefiihl  iiberhaupt "  in  his  "  Sittengeschichte  der  Romer  " 
(6.  Aufl.)  ii,  p.  188  ff.  It  should  be  added,  also,  that  some  of 
the  figurative  expressions  which  might  be  included  in  this  di- 
vision have  already  been  discussed  under  such  headings  as 
Building,  Metal  Working,  Farming,  Hunting,  Fishing,  Travel- 
ling, and  Navigation;  and  others  have  been  left  among  those 
which  I  have  classified  as  "  General  Notions." 

As  regards  the  distribution  of  the  examples,  the  largest 
number  are  taken  from  fire,  heat,  light,  and  their  opposites ;  l 
and  next  to  these,  from  water  and  the  general  notion  of  fluidity. 
The  various  departments  of  the  animal  kingdom  are  fairly 
well  represented;  for,  although  the  wild  animals  furnish  only 
3  metaphors,  they  are  used  in  over  20  comparisons,  while  the 
domestic  animals  give  25  metaphors  and  11  comparisons,  in 
addition  to  those  already  included  under  Horsemanship  (p. 
89).  Not  quite  a  score  of  examples  come  from  the  birds; 
only  2  metaphors  and  6  comparisons  from  insects ;  and  5  com- 
parisons, with  no  metaphors  (unless  we  include  serpere  in  Ep. 
8,  2  and  85,  12),  from  the  reptiles.  There  are  none  from 
aquatic  creatures,  outside  of  the  two  comparisons  previously 
given  under  the  head  of  Fishing  (p.  89).  The  figures  from 

1 "  One  of  the  commonest  figures  employed  in  the  Letters    [of  Cicero] 
is  that  drawn  from  heat  and  cold."     F.  F.  ABBOTT,  "  Selected  Letters  of 
Cicero,"  Boston,  1899,  Introd.  p.  Ixxiv. 
150 


In  General;   Animal  Kingdom  151 

the  vegetable  kingdom  are  not  very  numerous,  and  about  a 
third  of  the  metaphors  are  from  fructus  and  semen.  Of  par- 
ticular species,  mention  is  made  of  the  rose,  the  vine,  the  oak, 
the  apple,  wheat,  the  pomegranate,  the  fig,  and  the  olive- 
all  but  one  of  these  appearing  in  comparisons.  Very  little 
use  is  made  of  stones  and  metals.  Aside  from  those  previously 
mentioned  under  the  head  of  Metal-working  (p.  94),  I  find 
but  one  metaphor  and  4  comparisons.  Weather,  and  the  di- 
visions of  the  day  and  year,  altogether  furnish  only  9  meta- 
phors and  14  comparisons;  and  the  number  of  figures  taken 
from  the  sky  and  heavenly  bodies  is  somewhat  less  than  this. 
Land  and  mountains  are  the  source  of  about  40  figures,  as 
are  the  sea  and  ocean,  but  of  this  total  of  over  eighty  all  but 
7  are  metaphors;  while  rivers,  streams,  and  lakes  are  used  for 
but  10  tropical  expressions  and  9  comparisons.  The  tabulated 
list  of  examples  is  as  follows : 

IN  GENERAL 

chaos:  Ep.  72,  9  (inperiti  ac  rudes)  in  Epicureum.  illud  chaos  decidunt, 
inane,  sine  termino. 

natura:  Ep.  100,  5  verba  .  .  .  contra  naturam  suam  posita.  Ep.  119,  8 
quod  naturae  satis  est,  homini  non  est. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  71,  12-16  (change  in  the  State  compared 
to  changes  in  the  UNIVERSE)  ;  79,  8-9,  wisdom  is  as  unchange- 
able as  the  universe;  89,  1  (philosophy,  to  the  visible  appear- 
ance of  the  universe;  in  the  latter  part  of  the  section,  and 
the  next,  the  comparison  shifts  slightly  to  t  the  secrets  of  the 
universe  ')  ;  104,  23  (the  spirit  of  man,  to  the  universe).  Ep. 
124,  11,  as  no  NATURAL  OBJECT  shows  its  excellence  except 
when  it  has  reached  full  maturity,  so  the  excellence  of  man  is 
not  found  in  him  except  when  he  has  perfect  wisdom. 


A.    ANIMAL  KINGDOM 

As  not  strictly  belonging  to  any  of  the  following  subdivisions, 
we  may  first  mention  the  metaphorical  use  of  aures  erigere  in 


152  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Ep.  68,  9  and  108,  39 ;  *  and  the  comparisons  in  Ep.  60,  40 
(gluttons,  to  ANIMALS)  and  Ep.  66,  31  (the  mind,  like  animals, 
is  disturbed  by  the  appearance  of  danger). 

(a)    WILD  ANIMALS 

efferatus:   Ep.   121,  4  adfectus  efferatissimos. 

lancinare:  Ep.  32,  2  diducimus  illam  (sc.  vitam)  in  particulas  ac  lanci- 
namus.  The  word  is  poetic  and  post- Augustan ;  cf.  W.  C.  Summers  in 
Class.  Quart,  n,  1  (Jan.  1908),  p.  24.  In  a  tropical  sense,  Lexx.  cite 
only  Cat.  29,  18  (bona) ;  Pliny,  N.  H.  4,  19  tot  sinus  Peloponnesi  oram 
lancinant,  tot  maria  adlatrant;  here;  and  Arnob.  2,  8,  47  ( credulitatem 
f acetiis  iocularibus ) .  The  only  other  instance  of  it  that  I  have  found  in 
Seneca  is  Thy.  778  (literal). 

laniare:  Ep.  51,  13  quaecumque  cor  tuum  laniant.  Cf.  Tac.  A.  6,  6 
posse  adspici  laniatus  (mentium).  In  a  tropical  sense,  Lexx.  cite  only 
Ov.  R.  A.  367  (linguae  carmina)  ;  id.  M.  1,  60  (venti  mundum)  ;  id.  H. 
7,  175  (laniata  classis)  ;  and  here.  Add  Cic.  Tusc.  5,  27,  77  pueri  Spar- 
tiatae  non  ingemescunt  verberum  dolore  laniati.  Seneca  uses  the  word 
six  times  in  his  tragedies,  but  always  in  a  literal  sense. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  55,  5  (a  man  who  retires  from  active  life 
compared  to  a  cowardly  ANIMAL)  ;  66,  26-27,  as  animals  care 
for  all  their  cubs  alike,  so  virtue  has  equal  regard  for  all  her 
offspring;  68,  4,  certain  animals  confuse  the  tracks  around 
their  lair  in  order  to  escape  discovery,  so  the  man  who  seeks 
philosophic  retirement  should  not  advertise  the  fact  or  he  will 
be  followed;  74,  21  (the  courage  inspired  by  love  for  reason 
compared  to  that  in  wild  animals,  by  love  for  their  young)  ; 
85,  8,  the  passions,  like  animals,  cannot  listen  to  reason;  90, 
34,  the  wise  man  does  not,  like  the  other  living  creatures,  have 
eyes  slow  to  recognize  the  divine;  94,  62  (cruelty  compared 
to  wild  animals)  ;  99,  24,  animals  love  but  soon  forget  those 

1  It  is  to  be  observed  that  Seneca  in  these  examples  as  in  Dial.  7,  23,  5 
quid  erexistis  aures,  prefers  the  Ciceronian  form  (cf.  Cic.  Verr.  2,  1,  10 
and  Sull.  11,  33)  to  arrigere  of  the  poets  (e.  g.,  Plaut.  Rud.  1293;  Ter. 
Andr.  933;  Verg.  A.  2,  303;  Ov.  M.  15,  516).  Cf.  Antib.7,  I,  p.  201,  s.  v. 
arrigere ;  and  see  also  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  49  and  Sutphen  in  A.  J.  P. 
xxn,  p.  15.  Donatus  on  Ter.  Andr.  933  says,  "  Translatio  a  pecudibus, 
quibus  intendit  accipiendam  esse  vocem." 


Domestic  Animals  153 

taken  from  them,  not  so  the  wise  man;  103,  2,  men  are  worse 
and  more  dangerous  than  animals;  104,  23,  as  nature  has  given 
different  characteristic  dispositions  to  different  animals,  so  she 
has  given  us  one  that  is  different  from  theirs;  124,  8  (a  child 
compared  to  an  animal;  this  is  resumed  in  sect.  13).  Ep.  41, 
6  (a  LION  with  gilded  mane,  to  illustrate  the  folly  of  judging 
by  externals)  ;  59,  17,  the  pleasures  of  the  foolish  and  bad  are 
no  better  than  the  joy  of  lions  when  they  find  prey;  76,  9 
(human  strength  compared  to  that  of  lions)  ;  124,  22,  the  hair 
of  a  man  is  less  beautiful  than  the  mane  of  a  lion.  Ep.  85,  8, 
vices,  like  TIGEKS  and  lions,  are  never  really  tamed.  Ep.  85, 
41  (taming  of  wild  animals — lions,  tiger,  ELEPHANT — ;  sic 
sapiens  artifex  est  domandi  mala).  Ep.  60,  2,  the  appetite 
of  man  exceeds  that  of  the  elephant ;  90,  4,  the  tallest  elephant 
leads  the  herd,  among  men  the  mind  used  to  be  the  test  of 
leadership.  Ep.  76,  8,  swiftness  is  the  special  quality  of  a 
DEER,  reason,  of  a  man.  Ep.  124,  22  (the  HAKE,  as  a  type  of 
swiftness). 

(b)    DOMESTIC  ANIMALS 
(In  additions  to  examples  here,  see  under  "Horsemanship/*  p.  89.) 

adgregare :  Ep.  92,  7  ( of  the  man  whose  "  summum  bonum "  is  the 
pleasures  of  the  table)  mutis  adgregetur  animal  pabulo  laetum. 

arietare:  Ep.  56,  13  arietata  inter  se  arma.  This  verb,  which  is  con- 
fined to  poetry  and  post- Augustan  prose,  is  a  favorite  one  with  Seneca; 
cf.  Dial.  4,  3,  3;  5,  4,  1;  7,  8,  5;  9,  1,  11;  but  I  find  no  example  in  his 
Tragedies.  The  other  authors  cited  by  Lexx.  are  Plautus,  Accius  (ap.  Cic. 
Div.  1,  22,  44;  Merguet  shows  no  example  for  Cicero  himself),  Vergil,  Cur- 
tius,  the  elder  Pliny,  and  Prudentius.  Ep.  103,  4  non  arietant  inter  se 
nisi  in  eadem  ambulantes  via.  Ep.  107,  2  longam  viam  ingressus  es:  et 
labaris  oportet  et  arietes  et  cadas. 

congregare:  Ep.  62,  2  quibus  me  tempus  aliquod  congregavit.  The 
tropical  sense  of  this  word  is  much  more  common  than  the  literal.  For 
the  construction  here,  see  Antib.7,  I,  p.  330. 

convolutare:  Ep.  114,  25  non  cum  omni  exoletorum  feminarumque  turba 
convolutatur.  The  idea  of  '  wallowing '  may  be  implied  in  the  verb, 
although  Haakh  renders  "  sich  herumwaltzt."  H.  Lex.  cites  it  only  here, 
with  the  rather  absurd  definition  "  whirl  or  roll  around  rapidly."  F-DV. 
also  cites  only  here,  and  defines  as  =  simul  voluto. 

depasci:   Ep.   91,   1    (ignis,  subject). 


154  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

domare:  Ep.  66,  44  hoc  (bonum)  violentiam  (fortunae)  domuit.  Ep. 
89,  18  marcentia  in  te  excita,  .  .  .  contumacia  doma.  Cf.  under  "  War- 
fare," p.  128. 

edomare:   Ep.  68,   14    (aetas)    quae  se  .  .  .  edomuit. 

grex:   Ep.  88,  45  supervacuum  studiorum  liberalium  gregum. 

instigare:  Ep.  10,  2  animus  .  .  .  iracundiam  instigat.  Ep.  105,  1  quae 
hominem  in  perniciem  hominis  instigent.  Ep.  108,  7  rapit  illos  insti- 
gatque  rerum  pulchritude. 

interiungere :  ( *  unyoke ' )  :  Ep.  83,  6  brevissimo  somno  utor  et  quasi 
interiungo.  Cf.  Sen.  Dial.  9,  17,  7.  The  examples  of  this  meaning  of 
the  word  in  Lexx.  are  confined  to  Seneca  and  Martial. 

iugum:  Ep.  19,  6  (of  withdrawal  from  the  cares  of  public  life)  subdue 
cervicem  iugo  tritam:  semel  illam  incidi  quam  semper  premi  satius  est. 
Ep.  51,  8  iugum  (fortunae)  non  recipio,  immo  .  .  .  excutio.  Ep.  69,  5 
ut  vitia  .  .  .  subigantur  et  iugum  accipiant.  Ep.  80,  5  (mors)  nobis 
iugum  imponit.  Ep.  85,  28  ilia  .  .  .,  quae  nobis  iugum  inponunt.  Ep.  88, 
29  terribilia  et  sub  iugum  libertatem  nostram  mittentia.  This  can  also 
be  regarded  as  a  military  metaphor.  Ep.  104,  34  libeat  modo  subducere 
iugo  collum.  The  context  is  a  reference  to  Gate's  suicide.  Ep.  109,  16 
illud  .  .  .  sapiens  sapienti  praestabit:  egregium  opus  pari  iugo  ducet. 

pascuum:  Ep.  104,  6,  Seneca,  having  gone  to  the  country  for  his  health, 
writes,  "  in  pascuum  ernissus  cibum  meum  invasi."  Cf.  Hildebrand  on  Ap. 
Met.  2,  7. 

praedomare:    Ep.    113,   27   omnis   casus  .  .  .  meditando   praedomuit. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  47,  5,  we  abuse  slaves  as  if  they  were 
BEASTS  OF  BURDEN;  51,  10,  the  mind  is  affected  hy  the  region 
where  we  reside,  as  beasts  of  burden  are  by  the  character  of 
their  pasture;  76,  8-9,  as  strength  is  the  special  excellence  of 
the  beast  of  burden,  reason  is,  of  man.  Ep.  60,  2,  the  appetite 
of  man  exceeds  that  of  a  BULL.  Ep.  90,  4,  in  the  FLOCKS,  the 
largest  or  most  vigorous  bodies  mark  the  leaders;  among  men, 
the  mind  used  to  be  the  test  of  leadership.  Ep.  90,  4,  similar 
idea  to  the  preceding,  except  that  the  comparison  is  made  to 
the  bull  that  leads  the  HERD.  Ep.  108,  29,  it  is  not  strange, 
that,  from  the  same  source,  different  people  gather  what  appeals 
to  the  interest  of  each ;  in  the  same  meadow,  the  ox  seeks  grass, 
the  DOG,  a  hare,  the  stork,  a  lizard.  Ep.  72,  8  (quoted  from 
Attains,  but  with  the  resulting  metaphor  somewhat  expanded 
by  Seneca)  we  treat  the  gifts  of  fortune  as  a  dog  does  the  bits 
of  food  thrown  to  him  by  his  master;  76,  8-9,  as  sagacity, 
speed,  and  courage  are  the  special  excellences  of  dogs,  so  reason 


Fish;  Birds  155 

is  that  of  man.  Ep.  95,  68-71,  Vergil's  description  of  a 
spirited  COLT  (G.  3,  75-85)  quoted,  and  applied  to  Cato  of 
Utica,  with  considerable  skill  and  detail ;  cf .  H.  Wirth,  "  De 
Yergilii  apud  Senecam  philosophum  usu,"  p.  7.  Ep.  124,  22, 
the  mane  of  a  HOESE  is  thicker  than  the  hair  of  a  man. 


(c)  FISH 

The  only  reference  to  fish  in  connection  with  figurative  ex- 
pressions is  to  be  found  in  the  two  comparisons  already  given 
under  "  Fishing,"  p.  89. 

(d)  BIRDS 

advolare:  Ep.  123,  16  voluptas  ...  ad  quam  minima  et  contemptissima 
(animalia)  advolant. 

cavea:  Ep.  88,  34  cum  ex  hac  effugerit  (animus)  eavea  (i.  e.,  the  body). 

columbari:  Ep.  114,  5   (in  a  passage  quoted  from  Maecenas  for  censure). 

praetervolare :  Ep.  40,  3  (of  different  kinds  of  speaking)  facilius  tamen 
insidit,  quod  exspectatur,  quam  quod  praetervolat.  Ep.  108,  25  meliora 
praetervolant. 

transvolare:    Ep.    104,    14    (see   under   "Comparisons"). 

turturilla:  Ep.  96,  5  turturillae  sunt,  tuti  contumeliae  causa.  The  word 
is  cited  by  Lexx.  only  here  (cf.  Du  CANGE,  "Gloss.  Med.  et  Inf.  Lat.," 
s.  v.  Turturella)  ;  nor  do  I  find  any  instance  of  similar  metaphorical  use 
of  turtur,  but  cf.  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  88,  s.  v.  columba. 

volaticus:  Ep.  42,  5  dixisse  me  (eum)  volaticum  esse.  The  word  is 
not  common,  and  is  usually  employed  in  a  metaphorical  sense,  for  which 
Lexx.  cite  only  Cicero  (Har.  Res.  22,  46  and  Att.  13,  25,  3),  Seneca, 
Apuleius,  and  ecclesiastical  writers.  Literal  examples  are  given  from 
Plautus  and  Hyginus. 

volucris:    Ep.   123,   16  gloria  .  .  .  volucre  quiddam  est. 

vultur:  Ep.  95,  43  (of  a  legacy  hunter)  vultur  est,  cadaver  expectat; 
cf.  Otto,  "  Sprichworter,"  p.  379,  s.  v.  vulturius. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  66,  26-27,  BIRDS  distribute  food  equally 
among  their  young,  virtue  shows  equal  favor  to  all  her  works; 
74,  5,  as  birds  are  frightened  by  the  noise  of  an  empty  sling, 
so  we  are  disturbed  by  the  mere  sound  of  trouble ;  99,  24,  birds 
love  one  another,  but  utterly  forget  the  lost ;  this  does  not  befit 
the  wise  man ;  104,  14,  travellers  fly  past  like  birds.  Ep.  122, 


156  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

3  (late  revellers  compared  to  NIGHT-BIBDS).  Ep.  76,  9  (PEA- 
COCK, as  type  of  beauty).  Ep.  122,  4  (gluttons  compared 
to  CAPONS).  Ep.  108,  29  (STORK;  see  under  "Domestic 
Animals/'  p.  154). 

(e)    INSECTS 

blattarius:  Ep.  86,  8  mine  blattaria  vocant  balnea  (if  they  have  not 
plenty  of  windows).  The  metaphor  is  derived  from  the  moth's  aversion 
to  light,  as  described  by  Pliny,  N.  H.  11,  99.  This  is  the  only  instance 
of  the  word  in  this  sense  given  by  Lexx. 

cereus:  Ep.  86,  18  (radices;  in  the  sense  'soft,  pliant,  flexible')  .  Cf.  Hor. 
A.  P.  162  cereus  in  vitium  flecti  and  Od.  1,  13,  2  (bracchia  Telephi;  but 
looted  is  also  read  here),  which  are  the  only  examples  of  this  tropical 
use  given  by  Lexx.  See  also  Serv.  on  Verg.  E.  2,  53  and  Otto,  "  Sprich- 
worter,"  p.  80,  s.  v.  cera. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  84,  3  (reading  compared  to  BEES  gather- 
ing honey;  leading  to  a  skilfully  developed  metaphor  in  sect.  5). 
Ep.  87,  19,  idleness  is  not  a  '  gpod ' ;  even  the  LOCUST  and  the 
FLEA  have  that.  Ep.  94,  41-42  (conversation  of  philosophers 
compared  to  the  bite  of  INSECTS  ;  this  is  quoted  from  Phaedon 
and  given  a  slightly  different  application  by  Seneca).  Ep.  109, 
6-7  (wisdom  compared  to  HONEY)  ;  118,  15  (honey,  which  is 
sweet  whether  the  amount  be  large  or  small,  as  an  illustration 
supporting  the  proposition  that  quality  does  not  change  with 
size ;  Seneca  quotes  this  argument  in  order  to  refute  it) . 


(f)    REPTILES 

There  are  no  metaphorical  expressions  to  be  considered  under 
this  head,  unless  we  include  Ep.  8,  2  (ulcera)  serpere  desierunt, 
and  85,  12  levia  initia  morborum  serpunt.  Cf.  erepere,  inre- 
pere,  obrepere,  repere,  and  subrepere  under  "  Words  indicating 
General  Actions." 

The  comparisons  are  as  follows:  Ep.  9,  19  (a  man  passing 
through  dangers  compared  to  a  SALAMANDER,  which  is  described 
but  not  named;  special  application  is  then  made  to  Stilbo). 
Ep.  42,  3-4  (hidden  vices,  to  a  dormant  SERPENT)  ;  81,  22, 


Vegetable  Kingdom  157 

wickedness,  unlike  the  poison  of  serpents,  harms  its  own  pos- 
sessor; 82,  24  (death,  to  a  serpent).  See,  further,  the  com- 
parison to  a  VIPER  in  a  jar,  Ep.  87,  26-27,  cited  under 
"  Utensils  and  Furniture,"  p.  59. 

In  this  connection  mention  may  also  be  made  of  Ep.  87,  19, 
where  a  WORM  is  used  as  an  illustration  of  quietude  and  free- 
dom from  annoyance. 


B.     VEGETABLE  KINGDOM 

auctus:  Ep.  109,  15  amicorum  auctu  ut  suo  proprioque  laetari.  This 
is  Haase's  conjecture,  accepted  by  Hense,  for  "  actu "  of  the  MSS. 

caducus:  Ep.  66,  11  satorum  vero  animaliumque  virtutes  .  .  .  fragiles 
quoque  caducaeque  sunt.  This  may  involve  a  metaphor  from  falling 
fruits  or  leaves.  Cf.  Sen.  Contr.  2,  1  (9),  1  fragiles  et  caduca  felicitas 
est.  See  also  under  "  General  Notions,"  p.  176. 

coalescere:  Ep.  69,  1  (animus,  subject).  H.  Lex.  indicates  that  the 
tropical  use  of  this  verb  is  frequent  in  the  historians,  especially  Livy  and 
Tacitus. 

degenerare:  Ep.  87,  25  ad  semen  nata  respondent,  bona  degenerare  non 
possunt. 

exstirpare:    Ep.  94,  68    (virtus)    mendacia  .  .  .  exstirpet. 

exsuctus:  Ep.  30,  1  infirmi  corporis  et  exsucti.  The  participle  in  this 
sense  of  '  dried  up '  is  cited  by  H.  Lex.  only  here  and  Varro,  R.  R.  2,  7 
1 1  ( segetes ) .  F-DV.  adds  Vitr.  8,  3  ( animalia ) ,  but  exsucata  is  the 
better  reading. 

floridus:    Ep.   114,    16    (sententiae)    floridae  .  .  .  et  nimis  dulces. 

flos :  Ep.  26,  2  hunc  ( sc.  senectutem )  ait  ( animus )  esse  florem  suum ; 
cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  620  iuventae  flore  primaevo  viges. 

flosculus:  Ep.  33,  1  (referring  to  quotable  passages  in  the  philosophers) ; 
similarly,  33,  7  certi  profectus  viro  captare  flosculos  turpe  est.  This  use 
is  shown  nowhere  else  by  Lexx.,  but  it  is  akin  to  that  in  Cicero  and 
Quintilian  in  the  sense  'rhetorical  adornment,'  e.  g.,  Cic.  Sest.  56,  119; 
Quint.  2,  5,  22. 

fructifer:  Ep.  98,  2  omnia,  quae  fortuna  intuetur,  ita  fructifera  .  .  . 
fiunt. 

fructuosus:  Ep.  9,  7  fructuosior  est  adulescentia  liberorum,  sed  infantia 
dulcior. 

fructus:  Ep.  23,  5  metallorum.  Ep.  78,  27  (vitae).  Ep.  98,  11  cum 
ipsis  (amicis)  fructum  excidere  patiamur,  quern  ex  illis  percepimus.  Ep. 
117,  24  mortis  est  fructus,  optare  desinere. 

oriri:  Ep.  98,  1  (gaudium)  ex  se  ortum  .  .  .  crescit.  Ep.  124,  6  (with 
scientia  and  ars  as  subjects;  and  again,  in  connection  with  crescere). 

radix:  Ep.  95,  12  (praecepta),  ut  ita  dicam,  sine  radice;  this  is  resumed 


158  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

in  sect.  59  in  the  simile  with  leaves  and  in  the  implied  comparison 
( sect.  64 )  "  et  sine  radice  inutiles  rami  sunt  et  ipsae  radices  iis,  quae 
genuere,  adiuvantur."  Ep.  124,  7  cacumen  radicis  loco  ponis;  cf.  Avit. 
Vienn.  c.  2,  106  (cited  by  Sutphen  in  A.  J.  P.  xxn,  1901,  p.  365)  non 
facit  vivum  radix  occisa  cacumen. 

ramus:  Ep.  67,  10  fortitudo,  cuius  patientia  et  perpessio  et  tolerantia 
rami  sunt.  Ep.  95,  64  (see  under  radix). 

rosa:  Ep.  36,  9  aequo  animo  in  rosa  iaceat.  This  is  evidently  pro- 
verbial though  not  in  Otto ;  see  V.  SZELINSKI,  "  Nachtrage  u.  Ergan- 
zungen  zu  Otto"  (Jena,  1892),  p.  17,  and  Sutphen  in  A.  J.  P.  xxn  (1901), 
p.  368  s.  v.  Rosa,  2. 

semen:  Ep.  73,  16  semina  .  .  .  divina.  The  metaphor  is  skilfully  de- 
veloped. Ep.  94,  29  honestarum  rerum  semina.  Ep.  108,  8  virtutum. 
Ep.  120,  4  semina  .  .  .  scientiae.  Ep.  123,  8  (sermo)  semina  in  animo 
relinquit. 

spinosus:  Ep.  82,  22  .(animus)  in  minuta  ac  spinosa  cogendiis.  This 
use  of  the  word  is  Ciceronian.  Ep.  108,  39  (res). 

Comparisons:  Ep.  2,  3  (reading  compared  to  a  PLANT)  ;  121, 
15  (a  growing  child,  to  a  young  plant)  ;  124,  11  (man,  to  a 
plant).  Ep.  33,  1-2,  one  TREE  is  not  noticed  when  all  the  forest 
is  equally  tall ;  the  fine  passages  in  Epicurus  are  conspicuous  be- 
cause comparatively  rare ;  93,  3-4,  men  who  accomplish  nothing- 
live  only  in  the  sense  that  trees  live:  124,  8  (a  child,  to  a  tree; 
this  is  resumed  in  sect.  13)  ;  124,  11  (man,  to  a  tree).  Ep. 
50,  6,  OAKS,  when  bent,  may  be  straightened ;  much  more  easily 
can  the  mind  be  formed.  Ep.  63,  5  (quoted  from  Attains), 
the  memory  of  dead  friends  is  like  APPLES  that  are  i  bitter- 
sweet.' In  Ep.  85,  5  Seneca  refutes  a  comparison  between  a 
wise  man  and  a  POMEGRANATE.  Ep.  87,  25,  good  is  not  born 
from  bad,  any  more  than  a  FIG  from  an  OLIVE-TREE.  Ep.  95, 
59,  doctrines,  like  LEAVES,  cannot  live  unsupported;  104,  11 
(loss  of  friends  compared  to  falling  leaves;  the  simile  is 
prettily  developed).  Ep.  38,  2  (words  and  precepts  compared 
to  SEED)  ;  124,  10,  the  (  good  9  does  not  exist  in  an  infant  any 
more  than  in  a  seed.  Ep.  41,  7  (man  compared  to  a  VINE)  ; 
76,  8-9,  what  fertility  is  to  a  vine,  reason  is  to  man;  112,  1-3 
(reforming  a  man  compared  to  grafting  a  vine,  which  is  de- 
scribed at  some  length).  Ep.  82,  24  (acute  sayings,  to  a  beard 
of  GRAIN).  Ep.  124,  10  (man,  to  WHEAT). 


Minerals  ;  Fire,  Heat,  Light  159 

C.     MINERALS 

(See  also  "Metal  Working,"  p.  94.) 

The  only  metaphor  to  be  noted  here  is  the  use  of  obrussa  in 
Ep.  13,  1  with  reference  to  the  testing  of  the  soul.  The  only 
other  examples  of  the  metaphorical  use  given  by  Lexx.  are 
Cic.  Brut.  74,  258  and  Sen.  N.  Q.  4,  5,  1.  The  conjectural 
reading  "  ad  obrussam  "  in  Sen.  Clem.  1,  1,  6  has  been  aban- 
doned by  Hosius  (ed.  1900).  The  literal  meaning  of  the  word 
is  explained  by  Pliny,  1ST.  H.  33,  59;  cf.  o/3pv&v  XPV<TL'OV 
'  pure  gold/  cited  by  L.  and  S.  Gk.  Lex.  from  Schol.  Thuc. 
2,  13,  and  see  also  STEPHANUS,  Thes.  Gr.  Ling.,  s.  v.  o$pi/?o9 
and  Du  Cange,  Gloss.,  s.  v.  obryzum.  For  tropical  use  of 
saxum  see  under  "  Building,"  p.  93. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  23,  4-5  (joy,  to  a  VEIN  OF  PRECIOUS 
METAL).  Ep.  71,  27,  the  wise  man  is  not  to  be  as  unfeeling 
as  a  EOCK.  Ep.  82,  14,  a  mass  of  METAL  is,  of  itself,  neither 
hot  nor  cold;  death  is  noble  only  in  connection  with  virtue  and 
courage.  Ep.  87,  20-21,  as  Vergil  says  (Georg.  1,  53  ff.), 
different  natural  products  have  their  special  regions ;  the  "  sum- 
mum  bonum  "  is  not  born  where  ivory  and  IKON  are ;  its  locality 
is  the  mind. 


D.     THE  ELEMENTS,   WEATHER,    SEASONS, 
CELESTIAL   PHENOMENA 

(a)    FIRE,  HEAT,  LIGHT 

With  these  I  have  included  their  opposites.  See  also  ex- 
amples given  under  "  Sight,"  p.  49  if. 

aestuare:  Ep.  13,  13  maiorem  partem  mortalmm  .  .  .  aestuare  ac  dis- 
currcre.  It  is  hard  to  tell  whether  the  metaphor  comes  from  the  agitation 
of  a  boiling  liquid,  or  from  the  tossing  of  the  waves  of  the  sea.  The 
example  from  Sen.  Here.  Get.  given  under  aestus  would  support  the 
former.  Cf.  Sen.  Here.  Get.  1339  reclinis  ecce  corde  anhelante  aestuat; 
Prud.  Perist.  13,  24  aestuante  nupta.  Ep.  95,  21  nivem  .  .  .  solacium 
stomach!  aestuantis. 


160  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

aestus:  Ep.  66,  46  (animo).  Cf.  Sen.  Here.  Get.  275  f.  pectoris  sani 
parum  |  aestus,  alumna,  comprime  et  flammas  doma. 

ardere:  Ep.  99,  27  tempore,  quo  films  ardet  (i.  e.,  is  on  his  funeral 
pyre). 

caligo:  Ep.  89,  2  (nobis  perrumpenda ) .  Ep.  102,  28  naturae  tibi  arcana 
retegentur,  discutietur  ista  caligo  et  lux  undique  clara  percutiet.  The 
metaphor  is  beautifully  developed  through  several  lines. 

dilucidus:  Ep.  121,  13  (sensus).  The  tropical  application  to  speech  is 
frequent  in  Cicero  and  Quintilian. 

effulgere:   Ep.  74,   14    (innocentia,  subject). 

enitere:    Ep.   79,   16    (opinio,  subject). 

exaestuare:  Ep.  79,  2,  the  subject,  which  is  lacking  in  the  best  MSS., 
is  evidently  ignis;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  for  conjectural  readings.  Ep.  82, 
4  multa  intus,  quae  .  .  .  exaestuant.  Ep.  83,  16  (vinum).  Ep.  95,  17 
( cerebrum ) . 

exardescere:  Ep.  18,  15  (affectus,  subject;  the  metaphor  is  common, 
but  here  leads  to  a  simile  with  ignis ) . 

excandescere :  Ep.  76,  23  nee  excandescere  ad  subita.  Ep.  123,  5  (animus, 
subject). 

extinguere  (exst-;  in  the  text  of  Seneca,  the  ppl.  is  nearly  always 
spelled  with  "  s,"  the  verb  itself  without  it)  :  Ep.  8,  5  (potio  sitim).  Ep. 
49,  1  exstinctam  memoriam.  Ep.  53,  7  (gravis  sopor  somnia).  Ep.  63,  13 
(aetas,  subject;  vitia,  object).  Ep.  74,  23  acies  oculorum  exstincta.  Ep. 
77,  17  (solem).  Ep.  78,  9  impetus  (morbi)  mora  extinguitur.  Ep.  78, 
17  morbus  .  .  .  aut  extinguetur  aut  extinguet.  Ep.  81,  7  beneficio  vis 
iniuriae  extinguitur.  Ep.  82,  9  (metum).  Ep.  83,  17  (sitim).  Ep.  94, 
31  non  .  .  .  extincta  .  .  .  indoles  .  .  .  sed  obscurata.  Ep.  95,  25  (of  hot 
food)  iudicas  sine  noxa  in  ipsis  visceribus  extingui?  Ep.  99,  24  amor 
.  .  .  totus  extinguitur.  Ep.  119,  3  (sitim). 

fax:  Ep.  115,  12  carmina  .  .  .,  quae  adfectibus  nostris  facem  subdant; 
cf.  Sen.  Ag.  136  inter  istas  mentis  obsessae  faces. 

flagrare:  Ep.  108,  1  cupiditas  discendi,  qua  flagrare  te  video.  Ep.  115, 
4  (see  ignis).  Cf.  Sen.  Thy.  98  (cor)  flagrat  incensum  siti;  id.  Oct.  132 
odioque  nostri  flagrat  (victrix). 

frigus:  Ep.  67,  1  aetas  mea  contenta  est  suo  frigore.  Vix  media  rege- 
latur  aestate.  Ep.  122,  11  tolerabilis  poeta  et  amicitia  Tiberi  notus  et 
frigore. 

fulgere:  Ep.  91,  4  (indefinite  neuter  subject).  Ep.  110,  14  (quoted 
from  Attalus)  aliquid  ex  illis  (i.  e.,  divitiis)  .  .  .  fulserat.  Ep.  115,  3 
faciem  .  .  .  fulgentem;  strengthened  by  lucentibus  which  follows.  Ep. 
115,  4  faciem  altiorem  fulgentioremque. 

fulgor:  Ep.  21,  1  retinet  te  huius  vitae  .  .  .  fulgor.  Ep.  94,  74  (by 
metonymy  for  fama).  Ep.  120,  5  (conspicui  alicuius  facti).  See  C. 
THULIN,  "  Fulgur,  fulmen  und  Wortfamilien "  in  A.  L.  L.  xiv  (1906), 
p.  369  f. 

ignis:  Ep.  115,  4  oculis  .  .  .  vivido  igne  flagrantibus;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed. 
364  erumpit  oralis  ignis.  Ep.  7,  4  ferro  et  igne  res  geritur  is  cited  by 
Szelinski,  "  Nachtrage  zu  Otto,"  p.  16,  as  a  '  metaphorical  proverb.' 


Fire,  Heat,  Light  161 

incendere:  Ep.  83,  19  omne  vitium  ebrietas  .  .  .  incendit.  Ep.  104,  20 
incendent  libidines  tuas  adulterorum  sodalicia. 

inlustrare:    Ep.   91,  2    (opera,   subject;   urbes,  object). 

lucere:  Ep.  44,  2  (philosophia)  omnibus  lucet.  Ep.  115,  3  hinc  iustitia, 
illinc  fortitudine,  hinc  temperantia  prudentiaque  lucentibus;  cf.  fulgere. 

lucescere:   Ep.  110,  8    (see  lux). 

lucide:  Ep.  71,  16   (animus)    lucidius  .  .  .  inter  divina  mansurus. 

lucifuga:  Ep.  122,  15  (applied  to  those  who  turn  night  into  day  in 
their  revels).  The  only  other  examples  of  the  word  given  by  Lexx.  are 
Ap.  M.  5,  chap.  19  and  id.  Apol.  chap.  16.  Cf.  lucifugus  in  Antib.7,  n,  p.  36. 

lumen:  Ep.  48,  8  (clarum  veritatis).  Ep.  88,  45  (scientiam)  lumen,  per 
quod  acies  derigatur  ad  verum. 

lux:  Ep.  19,  4  sequetur,  quocurnque  fugeris,  multum  pristinae  lucis. 
Ep.  93,  5  (vera).  Ep.  100,  11  multum  erit  in  omnibus  lucis.  Ep.  102, 
28  (see  caligo) .  Ep.  110,  6-8  (used  several  times  in  metaphor  based  on 
Lucr.  2,  55  f.;  tenebrae  and  lucescere  are  employed  in  the  same  connection). 
Ep.  115,  7  magnarum  potestatium  falsa  lux. 

nitere:  Ep.  41,  6  (animus)  qui  nullo  bono  nisi  suo  nitet.  Ep.  120,  8 
optimum  ex  contrario  nituit. 

obscurare:    Ep.  94,  31  indoles  .  .  .  obscurata. 

obscurus:    Ep.  57,  2  nihil  illis   facibus  obscurius. 

per  lucere:   Ep.  79,   18  tenue  est  mendacium:    perlucet. 

radiare:    Ep.    115,   7  multus  circa  divitiarum  radiantium   splendor. 

recalescere:    Ep.   34,    1   discussa   senectute   recalesco. 

regelare:   Ep.  67,   1    (see  frigus) . 

splendere:  Ep.  23,  6  ista,  quae  extrinsecus  splendent.  Ep.  122,  7 
( pueritia,  subject ) . 

splendidus:  Ep.  100,  5   (verba). 

splendor:  Ep.  115,  3  frugalitas  et  continentia  (etc.)  .  .  .  splendorem 
illi  suum  adfunderent.  In  the  same  passage  occur  fulgentem  and  lucenti- 
bus. Ep.  115,  6  multa  .  .  .  aciem  nostram  .  .  .  splendore  nimio  repercu- 
tiunt.  Ep.  115,  7  divitiarum;  in  the  same  connection  occur  radiantium 
and  lux. 

tenebrae:  Ep.  19,  3  tenebras  habere  non  potes.  Ep.  49,  11  (referring 
to  wrong  ideas  about  life  and  death)  has  tenebras  discute.  Ep.  82,  15 
tenebrarum  metus  est,  in  quas  adductura  mors  creditur.  Ep.  93,  7  ne 
velut  per  tenebras  aevum  ignobile  emetiar.  Ep.  104,  24  tenebras  per- 
rumpere.  Ep.  110,  6  (see  lux).  Ep.  113,  29  Alexander  .  .  .  modo  occiso 
amico,  modo  amisso  iacebat  in  tenebris  (this  may  be  taken  literally). 
Ep.  122,  4  (in  animo). 

torrere:  Ep.  14,  6  febrem  viscera  ipsa  torrentem.  Ep.  78,  19  febrem 
praecordia  ipsa  torrentem. 

umbra:  Ep.  33,  8  interpretes  sub  aliena  umbra  latentes.  Ep.  74,  21 
virtutis.  Ep.  79,  13  gloria  umbra  virtutis  est.  Ep.  88,  46  tota  rerum 
natura  umbra  est.  Ep.  92,  27  umbra  quaedam  illorum  bonorum  et  simili- 
tude. Ep.  99,  3  umbras  malorum  (contrasted  with  solida  mala). 

urere:  Ep.  3,  4  quicquid  illos  urserit,  exonerant.     Ep.  48,  7    (alium  pau- 


162  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

pertas).  Ep.  66,  37  (morbus  praecordia).  Ep.  95,  25  non  credis  (garum) 
urere  salsa  tabe  praecordia?  Ep.  104,  17  (mala  te).  Ep.  119,  13  fauces 
urit  sitis. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  18,  15  (anger  compared  to  FIRE).  Ep. 
21,  1-2  (the  difference  between  public  life  and  that  of  the 
philosopher  compared  to  that  between  SPLENDOR  and  LUX. 
Ep.  31,  5,  as  there  is  nothing  bright  without  LIGHT, 
nothing  gloomy  without  DARKNESS,  nothing  hot  without  the 
assistance  of  HEAT,,  so  the  honorable  and  the  base  are  pro- 
duced by  virtue  and  wickedness.  Ep.  39,  3  (the  mind 
compared  to  FLAME)  ;  similarly,  57,  8.  Ep.  79,  11-12  (the 
first  illumination  of  the  mind,  to  the  LIGHT  OF  THE  SUN 
seen  through  a  mist).  Ep.  79,  13  (developing  the  metaphor 
gloria  UMBRA  virtutis  est).  Ep.  92,  5  (Antipater's  theory  that 
"  externa  "  have  some  value,  though  slight,  likened  to  seeking 
the  light  of  a  little  FIRE  in  broad  day,  and  to  a  SPARK  in  com- 
parison with  the  sun).  Ep.  92,  21,  Seneca  quotes  and  rejects 
the  theory  that,  as  between  the  hot  and  the  cold  there  is  the 
LUKEWARM,  so  there  is  something  between  the  happy  and  the 
wretched.  Ep.  94,  29  (the  seeds  of  good  in  the  mind  compared 
to  a  SPARK,  which  may  be  fanned  to  a  flame).  Ep.  100,  10 
(eloquence,  to  a  SHADOW).  In  Ep.  109,  8  Seneca  quotes,  and 
in  sect.  9  shows  the  fallacy  of,  the  comparison  that,  as  it  is 
useless  to  add  more  warmth  to  a  thing  already  HEATED  to  the 
utmost  degree,  so  nothing  can  be  added  to  the  "  summum  bo- 
num."  Ep.  117,  30-31,  surrounded  as  we  are  by  perils,  we 
are  no  more  able  to  attend  to  sophistic  quibbles  than  a  man 
running  to  put  out  a  FIRE  would  delay  over  trifles.  Ep.  120, 
13  (the  truly  great  man  compared  to  a  LIGHT  shining  forth  in 
the  dark). 

(b)    AIR,  WIND 

adflare:  Ep.  72,  5  incommode  adflatur.  Ep.  114,  3  illo  (i.  e.,  ammo) 
vitiato  hoc  (i.  e.,  ingenium)  quoque  adflatur;  cf.  Petr.  2  loquacitas  .  .  . 
animos  iuvenum  .  .  .  veluti  pestilenti  quodam  sidere  afflavit. 

aura:  Ep.  13,  13  damus  nos  aurae  ferendos;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  488  aura 
populi  et  vulgus  infidum  bonis. 


Water  and  Fluids  163 

conflare:  Ep.  95,  73  (applied  to  metals;  in  this  sense,  according  to 
H.  Lex.,  "most  freq.  after  the  Aug.  per.").  Cf.  Sen.  Phoen.  244  f.  macu- 
latos  lares  |  connate. 

inflare:  Ep.  36,  1  (felicitas,  subject).  Ep.  66,  31  ilia  quae  .  .  .  vulgi 
scntentia  bona  sunt,  inflant  inanibus  laetos.  Ep.  76,  17  (neuter  plural 
subject;  animum,  object).  Ep.  87,  31  (divitiae)  inflant  animos.  Ep.  90, 
28  (magnitudinem  solidam  contrasted  with  inftatam).  Ep.  114,  1  inflata 
explicatio.  As  applied  to  literary  style,  with  the  meaning  'bombastic,' 
examples  of  inflatus  are  given  by  Lexx.  from  Auctor  ad  Herennium,  Pro- 
pertius,  Quintilian,  Tacitus,  and  Suetonius;  in  the  sense  'haughty,  proud/ 
it  is  Ciceronian. 

turbo:  Ep.  37,  5  in  medio  turbine  rerum. 

ventosus:  Ep.  84,  11  ambitum:  tumida  res  est,  vana,  ventosa.  The  word 
has  two  tropical  meanings,  '  changeable,  fickle '  and,  as  here,  '  windy,  vain, 
empty.'  In  the  latter  sense  Lexx.  give  examples  from  Vergil  (A.,  lingua 
and  gloria)  ;  Horace  (Ep.,  curru)  ;  Petronius  (loquacitas)  ;  Seneca  (Dial. 
5,  8,  4  ventosus  et  mendax)  ;  Statius  (Theb.,  decus)  ;  and  Pliny  (Paneg., 
natio).  Cf.  Antib.7,  n,  p.  722. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  57,  8  (the  mind  compared  to  AIR).  Ep. 
83,  7  (confused  voices,  to  the  WIND  in  the  forest).  Ep.  82,  21, 
the  drunkard's  dizziness  makes  the  house  look  as  if  spun  around 
by  a  WHIRLWIND  ;  Ep.  94,  67  (Alexander,  Pompey,  and  Caesar, 
to  whirlwinds).  Ep.  123,  16,  glory  is  more  unstable  than  a 

BREEZE. 

(c)    WATER  AND  FLUIDS  * 

adfundere:  Ep.  99,  17  (referring  to  demonstrations  of  grief  at  a  funeral) 
aliquem  conlabentem  et  corpori  adfusum;  cf.  Sen.  Phoen.  475  affusa  totum 
corpus  amplexu  tegam.  Ep.  115,  3  frugalitas  et  continentia  (etc.)  .  .  . 
splendorem  illi  suum  adfunderent. 

defluere:  Ep.  72,  10  (of  those  who  have  attained  some  measure  of  philo- 
sophic training)  hi  non  concutiuntur,  ne  defluunt  quidem.  Ep.  95,  20 
capillos  defluere  dixit.  Ep.  120,  14  pars  (dei)  et  in  hoc  pectus  mortale 
defluxit. 

diffluere:  Ep.  91,  11  iuga  montium.     Ep.  114,  4  in  oratione. 

diffundere:  Ep.  66,  32  res  ...  animum  et  diffundit  et  mordet.  The 
verb  in  this  sense  of  'gladden,  exhilarate,'  with  animum  or  vultum  as 
object  (cf.  dissolvere,  solvere,  remittere) ,  is  a  favorite  of  Ovid;  but  I  find 
no  examples  outside  of  him  and  Seneca.  As  applied  to  the  persons  them- 

*J.  H.  WESTCOTT,  on  Livy,  1,  16  (perfusus),  notes  the  frequent  meta- 
phorical use  in  Latin  of  words  of  flowing;  cf.  Nagelsbach-Muller,  "  Latei- 
nische  Stilistik,"  p.  538  f. 


164  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

selves,  however,  the  Lexx.  cite  Cicero,  Ovid,  Statius  (S.  4,  2,  54;  imitated 
from  Ov.  M.  3,  318),  Petronius,  and  Arnobius.  For  the  ordinary  tropical 
uses,  see  Antib.7,  I,  p.  446.  Ep.  85,  22  (beata  vita)  in  aequo  est  longa  et 
brevis,  diffusa  et  angustior.  Ep.  89,  21  quorum  aeque  spatiose  luxuria 
quam  illorum  avaritia  diffunditur.  Ep.  91,  2  to  to  orbe  terrarum  diffusa 
securitas  sit.  Ep.  106,  5  an  frontem  adstringant,  an  faciem  diffundant. 
Ep.  106,  12  ut  cetera  in  supervacuum  diffundimus,  ita  philosophiam  ipsam. 

diluere:  Ep.  84,  2   (of  reading)  solvet  ac  diluet  (vires). 

effluere:  Ep.  1,  1  (tempera).  Ep.  22,  17  (vita);  cf.  Sen.  Tro.  396 
(spiritus),  Phaed.  449  (dies),  Thy.  537  (dona  fortunae).  Ep.  114,  15 
( of  literary  style ) . 

effundere:  Ep.  78,  4  spiritum.  Ep.  81,  8  id  quod  referendum  ('repaid') 
est,  effundit  atque  abicit.  Ep.  83,  16  (secretum).  Ep.  99,  1  primum 
impetum  (doloris).  Ep.  99,  27  cum  aliquid  lacrimarum  adfectus  effuderit. 
Ep.  100,  1  effundi  verba.  Ep.  100,  2  non  effundere  videtur  orationem, 
sed  fundere.  Ep.  100,  10  oratio  .  .  .  nee  torrens,  quam  vis  effusa  sit.  Ep. 
117,  25  secretarum  cupiditatium  pondus  effundam.  Ep.  121,  18  animalia 
.  .  .  materno  utero  vel  ovo  modo  effusa.  Ep.  124,  22  (capillum  more 
Parthorum ) . 

fluere:  Ep.  33,  6  (of  quotable  passages  in  the  Stoic  writers)  non  enim 
excidunt,  sed  fluunt;  cf.  Cic.  Or.  12,  39.  Ep.  72,  7  omnia  autem,  quibus 
vulgus  inhiat,  ultro  citroque  fluunt.  Ep.  78,  25  delicatis  et  luxu  fluenti- 
bus;  cf.  Sen.  Phaed.  205  fluitque  luxu.  Ep.  94,  4  (pars  philosophiae)  ab 
universe  fluit.  Ep.  100,  1  utrum  exciderit  an  fluxerit  (oratio)  ;  in  the 
preceding  sentence  effundi  verba  occurs.  Ep.  110,  13  diu  pasta  et  coacta 
pinguescere  fluunt.  Ep.  114,  20  (oratio)  tenera  et  fluxa.  Ep.  115,  18 
oratio  fluens  leniter.  Ep.  116,  3  omnis  adfectus  a  quodam  .  .  .  fluere 
principio.  Ep.  118,  11  bonum  ex  honesto  fluit.  Ep.  123,  10  fluunt  dies. 

fluidus:  Ep.  66,  23  pecunia  et  corpus  et  honores,  inbecilla,  fluida.  Ep. 
71,  23  nos  fluidi  et  enerves.  Ep.  92,  10  inutilis  caro  et  fluida.  Ep.  102, 
25  ossa  nervique,  firmamenta  fluidorum.  Ep.  114,  23  omnis  ex  languido 
fluidoque  conatus  est.  For  the  tropical  use  of  this  word  Lexx.  cite  only 
Ovid  (lacerti),  Livy  (corpora),  the  elder  Pliny  (caro),  Seneca  (Oed.  423, 
syrma),  Auctor  Paneg.  ad  Pis.  90  (=Baehr.  PLM.  xv,  102)  (habitus  nee 
maestus  nee  fluidus ) ,  and  Justinus  ( vestis )  ;  and,  in  an  active  sense, 
Ov.  M.  15,  362  f.  fluidiore  calore  |  corpora  tabuerint. 

fluvidus:  Ep.  58,  24  de  homine  dixi,  fluvida  materia  et  caduca.  Ep.  58, 
27  inbecilli  fluvidique  inter  vana  constitimus.  This  spelling,  for  fluidus, 
is  given  by  Lexx.  only  for  Lucr.  2,  452  ff.,  Seneca,  and  Sedul.  Carm.  4,  186. 
See  Ribbeck,  Prol.  in  Verg.,  p.  448. 

fundere:  Ep.  74,  28  latius  virtus  funditur  (followed  a  little  later  by 
arto  fine  concluditwr) .  Ep.  100,  2  (of  speech;  see  effundere);  cf.  Sen. 
Oed.  572  (verba),  Med.  113  (convicia),  Oct.  923  (murmur),  and  perhaps 
Here.  Oct.  1080  (carmina).  Ep.  102,  12  gloriam  .  .  .  latius  fusam.  Ep. 
114,  9  luxuriam  late  felicitas  fudit.  Ep.  116,  2  (vitium)  latius  funditur. 

infundere:  Ep.  71,  19  hunc  animum  .  .  .  sapientia  infundet  et  tradet. 
Ep.  81,  14  divitiae  in  domum  infusae.  Ep.  82,  14  dies  illi  (sc.  cubiculo) 
lucem  infundit.  Ep.  115,  11  infusa  cupiditas. 


Water  and  Fluids  165 

liquescere:  Ep.  26,  4  (of  gradual  wasting  away  in  old  age;  in  the  context 
occur  solvente  and  dilabi). 

liquidus:  Ep.  71,  32  omnis  species  .  .  .  redigetur  ad  liquidum.  This  use 
of  the  neuter  as  a  substantive  meaning  'clearness,  certainty'  is.  cited  by 
Lexx.,  outside  of  this  passage,  only  from  Livy,  35,  8,  7;  Veil.  1,  16,  1; 
Curt.  9,  2,  14;  and  Quint.  5,  14,  28.  In  these  examples  Seneca  alone 
connects  it  with  redigere;  elsewhere  perducere  is  used.  The  corresponding 
use  of  the  adjective  is  shown  by  Lexx.  only  for  Plaut.  Ps.  762.  For  the 
adverb,  see  Antib.7,  n,  p.  27.  Neither  of  the  words  appears  in  Caesar. 

madere:  Ep.  83,  15  vino  madentem.  Ep.  95,  16  nervorum  vino  ma- 
dentium. 

perfundere:  Ep.  36,  3  (studia)  quibus  perfundi  satis  est.  For  this 
tropical  use  in  the  sense  '  make  superficially  acquainted  with '  Lexx.  cite 
only  Seneca.  The  context  here  is  a  metaphor  from  dyeing;  cf.  tingere,  p. 
99.  Ep.  110,  8  si  ilia  (sc.  notitia)  se  non  perfuderit,  sed  infecerit.  The 
second  verb  indicates  that  the  metaphor  of  dyeing  is  involved  here  also. 
Ep.  115,  9  cum  auro  tecta  perfudimus. 

perfusorius:  Ep.  23,  5  tenuem  .  .  .  ac  perfusoriam  voluptatem.  Lexx. 
give  no  parallel  except  in  the  phrase  perfusorie  dicere  in  Dig.  (Scaev.) 
21,  2,  69,  sect.  5  and  (Ulp.)  43,  24,  5,  sect.  1.  The  meaning  is  somewhat 
different  in  Suet.  Domit.  8. 

permadescere :  Ep.  20,  13  deliciis  permaduimus.  This  and  Sen.  Dial.  1, 
4,  9,  are  the  only  passages  cited  by  Lexx.  in  a  tropical  sense;  but  cf. 
Plaut.  Most.  143  f.  pro  imbre  amor  advenit  .  .  .  permadefecit  |  cor  meum. 

profluere:  Ep.  40,  2  (oratio,  subject;  in  a  translation  of  Homer,  II.  1, 
249).  Ep.  40,  12  proferatur  (oratio)  tamen  malo  quam  profluat. 

siccus:  Ep.  66,  6  animus  .  .  .  sanus  ac  siccus.  Ep.  114,  3  ingenium  .  .  . 
siccum  ac  sobrium.  Ep.  72,  10  nondum  in  sicco,  iam  in  portu.  Ep.  116,  6 
a  lubrico  recedamus:  in  sicco  quoque  parum  fortiter  stamus.  Cf.  Antib.1, 
II,  p.  575. 

spargere:  Ep.  13,  8  fabula  sine  auctore  sparsa.  Ep.  19,  1  (multum 
temporis).  Ep.  19,  12  (beneficia)  conlocata,  non  sparsa.  Ep.  29,  2  spar- 
genda  manus  est.  Hense  is  somewhat  doubtful  of  the  text.  Otto,  "  Sprich- 
worter,"  s.  v.  manus,  p.  211  ff.,  gives  no  phrase  with  spargere,  but  many 
examples,  including  Seneca,  of  plena  manu,  which  Hense  is  inclined  to 
make  the  basis  of  a  new  reading  here.  Ep.  71,  4  nee  in  multa  spargendum 
(est  summuni  bonum).  Ep.  74,  6  quae  a  fortuna  sparguntur.  Ep.  78,  18 
memoriam.  Ep.  91,  6  quidquid  longa  series  .  .  .  struxit,  id  unus  dies 
spargit  et  dissipat.  Ep.  91,  20  vir  .  .  .  rumoribus  sparsus.  Ep.  94,  29 
quaedam  diversis  locis  iacent  sparsa  (followed  by  contrahere,  in  unum  con- 
ferenda,  iungenda) .  Ep.  94,  54  (dementiam  in  proximos).  Ep.  95,  14 
(nequitia)  tarn  late  se  sparserat.  Ep.  102,  30  animum  .  .  .  solutum 
statim  spargi.  This,  as  in  the  older  editions,  seems  better  than  "  spargit," 
which  Hense,  following  the  example  of  Biicheler,  has  adopted  from  MS.  B; 
but  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  J.  BABTSCH  in  Rh.  Mus.  xxiv  (1869),  p.  272. 
Ep.  120,  21  (pecuniam).  Ep.  124,  22  (capillum,  ut  Scythae  solent). 

stilarium:  Ep.  97,  2    (the  word  is  cited  nowhere  else  by  H.  Lex.  and  is 


166  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

not  given  at  all  by  F-DV,  and  the  reading  is  uncertain;  see  Hense's  ap. 
crit.  and  cf.  Schweighauser's  Notae  ad  loc. 

stilicidium :   Ep.  101,  14  per  stilicidia  emittere  animam. 

stillare:  Ep.  40,  3  aeque  stillare  ilium  nolo  quam  currere  (the  context 
refers  to  manner  of  speaking).  Cf.  Calp.  Eel.  6,  23  stillantes  .  .  .  voces. 

transf undere :  Ep.  6,  4  omnia  in  te  cupio  transfundere.  Ep.  108,  19 
dum  in  aliud  corpus  transf unditur  (anima). 

The  only  comparison  is  Ep.  71,  24,  where  the  errors  of  the 
mind  in  moral  judgment  are  compared  to  the  delusion  of  the 
eye  by  REFRACTION  IN  WATER;  which  leads  to  the  metaphor 
animus  .  .  .  caligat. 


(d)     WEATHER,  KAIN, 

cadere:  Ep.  87,  19  non  in  omnes  bonum  cadit,  and  the  similar  phrase  in 
Ep.  124,  13,  may  involve  a  reference  to  the  falling  of  rain  or  snow. 

dilabi:  Ep.  26,  4  in  finem  suum  natura  solvente  dilabi. 

nubila:   Ep.  93,  5    (see  sidus,  p.   167). 

tempestas:  Ep.  88,  7  tempestates  nos  animi  cotidie  iactant.  Ep.  115, 
18  solidam  felicitatem,  quam  tempestas  nulla  concutiat. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  27,  3  (trouble  compared  to  passing 
CLOUDS)  ;  80,  6,  care  passes  away  like  a  light  cloud.  Ep.  40, 
2  (oratory,  to  SNOW).  Ep.  45,  9  (the  weapons  of  fortuna,  to 
HAIL  which  rattles  harmlessly  upon  the  roof).  Ep.  54,  1  (an 
attack  of  asthma,  to  a  SQUALL).  Ep.  91,  5  (the  sudden  STORMS 
of  summer,  to  illustrate  the  unexpected  attacks  of  fortuna)  ; 
99,  9,  life  is  more  changeable  than  a  storm.  Ep.  94,  67 
(great  conquerors,  to  a  WHIRLWIND).  Ep.  57,  8  (the  mind, 
to  LIGHTNING)  ;  74,  4  (misfortune,  to  lightning).  Ep.  66, 
20,  discomforts  falling  upon  virtue  have  no  more  effect  than 
RAIN  falling  in  the  sea.  Ep.  70,  5,  the  time  and  manner  of 
ending  one's  life  is  of  little  importance;  one  can  not  lose 
much  out  of  a  RAIN-DROP.  This  looks  proverbial,  although  not 
mentioned  by  Otto  or  Sutphen.  Ep.  92,  18,  disasters,  losses, 
and  injuries  affect  virtue  no  more  than  a  MIST  does  the  sun. 


Heavenly  Bodies;  Seasons;  Parts  of  the  Day  167 


(e)     HEAVENLY  BODIES 

caelum:  Ep.  68,  2  (sapiens)  caelo  impositus.  Ep.  79,  12  animus  .  .  . 
redditus  caelo  suo.  Ep.  102,  24  (caelum  by  metonymy  for  vitam  in  caelo). 

orbis:  Ep.  12,  6  tota  aetas  .  .  .  orbes  habet  circumductos  maiores  minori- 
bus  (the  metaphor  is  developed  through  several  sentences). 

serenum:  Ep.  93,  5  (the  man  who  has  invested  his  time  well)  vidit  .  .  . 
veram  lucem  .  .  .  Aliquando  sereno  usus  est. 

sidus:  Ep.  93,  5  (immediately  following  the  example  given  under  sere- 
num) aliquando,  ut  solet,  validi  sideris  (i.  e.,  the  sun)  fulgor  per  nubila 
emicuit. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  41,  5  (the  soul  compared  to  rays  of  the 
SUN)  ;  66,  20  (virtue,  to  the  sun)  ;  79,  8  (wisdom,  to  the  sun)  ; 
92,  5  (see  under  "  Fire,  etc.,"  p.  162);  92,  17-18  (virtue, 
to  the  sun;  effectively  developed  and  leading  to  a  series  of 
metaphors)  ;  108,  4,  as  one  who  comes  into  the  sunshine  is, 
even  without  his  own  intention,  sunburned,  so  even  the  care- 
less visitor  to  a  philosopher  will  take  away  with  him  something 
of  his  influence.  Ep.  79,  8  (wisdom,  to  the  MOON).  Ep.  59, 
16  (the  soul  of  the  wise  man,  to  the  calm  REGION  ABOVE  THE 
MOON).  Ep.  66,  46  (the  perfect  man,  to  the  clear  SKY).  Ep. 
71,  12-14,  the  republic,  like  the  earth,  the  SKY,  the  structure 
of  the  universe,  and  the  HEAVENLY  BODIES,  is  subject  to  change ; 
79,  10,  in  virtue,  as  in  the  heavenly  bodies,  stata  magnitude  est. 


(f)     SEASONS  ;  PARTS  OF  THE  DAY 

annus:  Ep.  55,  7  esse  illam  (sc.  Vatia's  villa)  totius  anni  credo;  i.  e., 
it  is  comfortable  all  the  year  around.  Ep.  87,  3  (caricae)  cotidie  mihi 
annum  novum  faciunt.  This  refers  to  the  custom  of  sending  gifts  on 
New  Year's  day;  cf.  Lipsius's  note  ad  loc.  and  Ov.  F.  1,  185  ff.,  cited 
by  him. 

antelucanus:  Ep.  122,  1  turpis,  qui  alto  sole  semisomnus  iacet,  cuius 
vigilia  medio  die  incipit,  et  adhuc  multis  hoc  antelucanum  est.  Hyperbole 
is,  of  course,  the  figure  involved  here. 

The  only  comparison  referring  to  the  seasons  is  that  implied 
in  Ep.  117,  28-29  '  spring  will  come;  I  know  it  is  winter  now; 
summer  will  follow;  I  know  it  is  not  summer.  I  hope  to  be 
wise;  meantime,  I  am  not  wise.' 


168  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

E.     LAND   AND  SEA 
(a)     LAND  AND  MOUNTAINS 

See  Friedlander's  section  "  Kein  Verstandniss  fiir  die  Schb'n- 
heit  der  Gebirgsnatur,"  in  "  Sittengeschichte,"  n,6  p.  207. 

abruptus:   Ep.   114,   1    ( sententiae ) ,  may  belong  here. 

angustiae:  Ep.  49,  10  angustias  temporis  mei  laxa  (i.  e.,  'give  me 
more  time').  Ep.  58,  7  (referring  to  the  lack  of  a  word  to  translate 
rb  8v )  damnabis  angustias  Romanas.  Ep.  88,  35  non  dabit  se  in  has 
angustias  virtus.  Ep.  100,  5  nullas  videbis  angustias  inanis.  There  is 
evidently  a  contrast  with  the  preceding  sensus  .  .  .  latins  dictos.  The 
context  is  a  metaphorical  description  of  literary  style  as  a  house  (see 
under  domus,  p.  55).  Hence,  although  the  combination  angustias  inanis 
is  somewhat  awkward,  there  is  no  need  for  Madvig's  conjecture  "  argu- 
tias  ";  cf.  Cic.  Caecin.  29,  84,  and  Ac.  2,  35,  112.  Ep.  102,  20  philosophiam 
in  has  angustias  ex  sua  maiestate  detrahere.  Ep.  114,  25  magna  pars  suae 
felicitatis  exclusa  corporis  angustiis. 

angustum:  Ep.  55,  11  in  angusto  vivebamus,  si  quicquam  esset  cogitati- 
onibus  clusum. 

antipodes:  Ep.  122,  2  sunt  quidam  in  eadem  urbe  antipodes. 

clivus:  Ep.  31,  4  clivum  istum  uno,  si  potes,  spiritu  exsupera.  Ep.  92, 
15  in  summo  deficit  clivo? 

declivis:  Ep.  101,  1  illi  declivis  erat  cursus  ad  cetera. 

deducere:  Ep.  51,  9  fortunam  in  aequum.  Ep.  91,  11  vis  ignium  .  .  . 
quondam  altissimos  vertices  ...  ad  humile  deduxit.  Ep.  92,  16  non  dedu- 
citur  a  beatissimo.  Ep.  Ill,  4  philosophiam  a  fastigio  suo  ...  in  planum. 

depressus:  Ep.  100,  8  (of  the  style  of  Fabianus)  nee  depressus  sed  plana. 

escendere:  Ep.  118,  6  nisi  adhuc  quaerit  escendere:  istud,  quod  tu  sum- 
mum  putas,  gradus  est. 

praeceps:  Ep.  78,  17  morbus.  Ep.  95,  33  in  avaritiam  luxuria  praeceps 
est.  Ep.  97,  10  non  pronum  est  tantum  ad  vitia,  sed  praeceps.  Ep.  101,  3 
genere  valitudinis  praecipiti.  The  neuter  is  used  as  a  substantive,  with 
tropical  force,  in  Ep.  8,  4  in  praecipitia  cursus  iste  deducit  (the  only 
example  of  the  plural  given  by  Lexx.)  ;  75,  8  statim  a  sapientia  praeceps 
est?  90,  42  mundus  in  praeceps  agebatur;  94,  73  despexerunt  in  illud 
magnitudinis  suae  praeceps.  This  substantival  use  is  not  common  (Merguet 
and  Meusel  show  no  instance  in  Cicero  or  Caesar),  and  the  only  tropical 
examples  given  by  Lexx.  are  from  Horace  (Sat.),  Livy,  Ovid  (Met.), 
Celsus,  Statius,  the  younger  Pliny,  and  Juvenal. 

praecipitare :  Ep.  15,  9  quos  caeca  cupiditas  in  nocitura  .  .  .  prae- 
cipitat.  Ep.  52,  8  qui  verba  magna  celeritate  praecipitant. 

praecipitatio :  Ep.  72,  9  inperitis  ac  rudibus  nullus  praecipitationis 
finis  est.  The  only  examples  of  this  word  given  by  Lexx.  are  Vitr.  5, 
12,  4;  Sen.  Dial.  3,  12,  6;  Ap.  de  Mundo,  308;  and  Vulg.  Psa.  51,  6. 


Ocean,  Sea,  Tide,  etc.  169 

praefraetus:  Ep.  114,  15  ( compositionem )  praefractam  et  asperam. 
The  only  similar  example  given  by  Lexx.  is  Cic.  Or.  13,  40.  The  word 
is  not  common  in  any  sense. 

praeruptus:  Ep.  84,  12  non  in  praerupto  tantum  istic  stabis,  sed  in 
lubrico. 

proclivis:  Ep.  81,  15  in  hanc  erit  partem  proclivior.  Ep.  86,  16  lunius 
mensis  .  .  .  iam  proclivis  in  lulium.  Ep.  94,  13  (animus)  ad  falsa 
procUvis;  cf.,  in  next  sentence,  mentem  ...  ad  peiora  pronam. 

solum:  Ep.  88,  28  philosophia  .  .  .  totum  opus  a  solo  excitat  (in 
contrast  with  precarium  fundamentum  in  the  preceding  sentence).  This 
example  might  be  classified  under  "  Building." 

vertex:  Ep.  84,  13  si  conscendere  hunc  verticem  libet,  cui  se  fortuna 
summisit;  for  context,  see  trames,  p.  122. 

Comparisons:  There  may  be  a  reference  to  HILLS  in  Ep.  43, 
1-2,  Lucilius  should  measure  himself  by  the  place  where  he  is, 
not  by  Kome ;  whatever  rises  above  objects  in  the  neighborhood 
is  great  in  that  place ; n  greatness  '  is  a  matter  of  comparison. 
Ep.  71,  12,  the  republic,  like  the  EARTH,  is  subject  to  change 
(this  is  one  of  a  series  of  comparisons).  Ep.  79,  10,  perhaps 
even  AETNA  may  fall,  but  no  fire  nor  rain  can  ever  cast 
virtue  down.  Ep.  Ill,  2-3  (the  philosopher  compared  to  great 
MOUNTAINS,  the  height  of  which  is  appreciated  the  more,  the 
nearer  one  approaches  to  them).  The  comparison  here  is  intro- 
duced by  a  metaphor,  beginning  with  elatior,  and,  by  the  aid 
of  similar  metaphors,  is  very  effectively  developed.  It  is  an 
excellent  example  of  skill  in  combining  metaphor  and  simile. 


(b)     OCEAN,  SEA,  TIDE,  ETC. 

abundare:    Ep.    100,    12   verbis   abundabat. 

aequalitas:  Ep.  53,  2  aequalitas  .  .  .  ,  quae  me  corruperat,  periit. 
Lexx.  show  no  other  instance  of  the  use  of  this  word  in  the  sense  tran- 
quillitas  maris. 

aestus:  Ep.  22,  8  ( ambitiosarum  rerum)  ;  the  figure  of  'retreating 
before  the  tide'  is  prettily  carried  out  in  the  context. 

altitude:  Ep.  21,  5  profunda  super  nos  altitude  temporis  veniet,  pauca 
ingenia  caput  exerent. 

altum:  Ep.  19,  5  te  in  altum  fortuna  misisset.  Ep.  59,  10  nemo  nostrum 
in  altum  descendit.  Ep.  80,  6  nulla  sollicitudo  in  alto  est.  Cf.  Sen. 
Thy.  590  alta,  quae  navis  timuit,  secare;  Phoen.  22  alta  maria. 

emergere:  Ep.  52,  2  nemo  per  se  satis  valet  ut  emergat:  oportet  manum 


170  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

aliquis  porrigat,  aliquis  educat;  cf.  (in  sect.  1  of  this  letter)  fluctuamur 
inter  varia  consilia.  Ep.  72,  6  ex  morbo.  Ep.  83,  20  quicquid  mail 
latebat,  emergit. 

exundare:  Ep.  99,  21  ut  gaudium  sic  dolores  exundavere;  cf.  Sen. 
Med.  392  (furor)  and  Oed.  924  (dolor). 

fluctuari:  Ep.  4,  5  inter  mortis  metum  et  vitae  tormenta  .  .  .  fluctu- 
antur.  Ep.  16,  3  (see  gubernaculum,  p.  125).  Ep.  20,  1  si  te  istinc, 
ubi  sine  spe  exeundi  fluctuaris,  extraxero.  Ep.  52,  1  (see  emergere). 
Ep.  95,  57  (inter  missa  adpetitaque) .  Ep.  104,  22  unus  est  .  .  .  huius 
vitae  fluctuantis  et  turbidae  portus.  Ep.  Ill,  4  sive  secundo  cursu  vita 
procedit,  sive  fluctuatur. 

fluctuatio:  Ep.  120,  20  indicium  est  malae  mentis  fluctuatio  et  inter 
simulationem  virtutum  amoremque  vitiorum  adsidua  iactatio. 

fluctus:  Ep.  19,  8  aut  in  ista  sollicitudine  procurationum  et  deinde  ur- 
banorum  officiorum  senescendum  in  tumultu  ac  semper  novis  fluctibus, 
quos  effugere  nulla  modestia,  nulla  vitae  quiete  contigit.  Ep.  28,  7 
qui  in  fluctus  medios  eunt.  Ep.  72,  11  cum  medios  quoque  sequatur 
fluctus  suus  (but  the  text  is  doubtful;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  cf. 
Fickert  ad  loc). 

innatare:  Ep.  84,  6  (alimenta)  solida  innatant  stomacho.  Ep.  122,  6 
merum  .  .  .,  quod  non  innatat  cibo. 

malacia:  Ep.  67,  14  (see  mare). 

mare:  Ep.  67,  14  (Demetrius)  vitam  securam  et  sine  ullis  fortunae 
incursionibus  mare  mortuum  vocat.  Nihil  habere,  ad  quod  exciteris,  .  .  . 
sed  in  otio  inconcusso  iacere  non  est  tranquillitas :  malacia  est. 

mergere:  Ep.  12,  4  ilia  (potio  extrema)  quae  mergit.  Ep.  19,  3  ut  in 
extrema  mergaris  ac  penitus  recondaris.  Ep.  24,  16  (animum  in  sollici- 
tudinem).  Ep.  36,  11  pars  caeli  levatur  assidue,  pars  mergitur.  Ep.  53, 
7  (sopor  animum).  Ep.  55,  3  quotiens  aliquos  amicitiae  Asinii  Galli, 
quotiens  Seiani  odium,  deinde  amor  merserat;  similar  examples  of  mergere, 
in  the  sense  of  obruere,  deprimere,  given  by  Lexx.,  are  Verg.  A.  6,  512 
and  11,  27;  Livy,  9,  18,  1  and  23,  18,  11;  Curt.  10,  3,  9;  Pliny,  N.  H.  7, 
132;  Juv.  10,  57.  Ep.  66,  12  ratio  ...  in  corpus  humanum  pars  divini 
spiritus  mersa;  cf.  Cic.  Sen.  20,  77  animus  caelestis  .  .  .  quasi  demersus 
in  terrain.  Ep.  83,  15  mersum  et  vino  madentem.  Ep.  85,  12  aegra 
corpora  minima  interdum  mergit  accessio  ( morbi ) . 

natare:  Ep.  35,  4  mutatio  voluntatis  indicat  animum  natare,  .  .  .  prout 
tulit  veiitus.  The  only  other  examples  given  by  Lexx.  of  natare  in  an 
intellectual  or  moral  sense  are  Cic.  N.  D.  3,  24,  62  (tu)  ;  Hor.  S.  2,  7, 
7  pars  multa  hominum;  Sil.  7,  726  (mens)  ;  Manil.  4,  257  (mens)  ;  cf. 
Ov.  F.  d,  673  vinis  oculique  animique  natabant,  and  the  picturesque  appli- 
cation of  the  word  to  the  swaying  of  the  scales  in  Tib.  4,  1,  44.  Ep.  74,  11 
natat  omne  consilium.  Ep.  95,  62  si  omnia  in  animo  natant;  cf.  ftuctu- 
antur  in  95,  57. 

redundare:  Ep.  7,  5  mala  exempla  in  eos  redundare.  Ep.  81,  22  mini- 
mum ex  nequitia  levissimumque  ad  alios  redundat.  Ep.  83,  16  (part  of  a 


Elvers,  Springs,  etc.  171 

quotation  from  a  stock  "  declamatio  " )  vino  redundante.  Ep.  95,  19  ilia 
ex  contrariis  naturae  partibus  in  eundem  compulsa  redundant. 

tranquillitas :  Ep.  67,  14   (see  mare}. 

tranquillum:  Ep.  98,  7  in  tranquillo  non  tumultuatur.  This  looks  like 
a  proverbial  expression,  but  is  not  mentioned  by  Otto,  Szelinski,  or  Sutphen. 

Comparisons:  Ep.  4,  7  (a  sudden  STORM  AT  SEA  as  an  illus- 
tration of  the  uncertainty  of  fortune).  Ep.  70,  2  (time  com- 
pared to  the  SEA)  ;  79,  8,  perfect  wisdom,  like  the  seas,  admits 
of  no  increase.  Ep.  83,  7  (many  confused  voices,  to  a  WAVE). 


(c)    RIVERS,  SPRINGS,  ETC. 

auferre:  Ep.  91,  1  incendium  .  .  .  nullam  (ci  vita  tern)  abstulit;  cf.  Ov. 
M.  9,  263  f.  interea  quodcumque  fuit  populabile  flammae,  |  Mulciber  abstu- 
lerat;  and  id.  M.  14,  574  f.  (Ardea)  quam  postquam  Dardanus  ignis  | 
abstulit.  Ep.  117,  32  tempore  tarn  angusto  et  rapido  et  nos  auferente. 

confluere:  Ep.  45,  9  ad  quern  pecunia  magna  confluxit. 

defluere:   Ep.  120,  11  beata  vita  secundo  defluens  cursu. 

influere:  Ep.  50,  5  nobis  casu  tantum  bonum  influere. 

praeterlabi:    Ep.   100,   11   otiosa  praeterlabetur   oratio. 

torrens:  Ep.  100,  10  (describing  the  style  of  Fabianus)  non  est  violenta 
nee  torrens,  quam  vis  effusa  sit;  cf.  Ep.  40,  8  (under  undo,).  Examples 
of  the  application  of  this  word  to  oratory  are  given  by  Lexx.  from 
Valerius  Flaccus,  the  elder  Pliny,  Quintilian,  and  Juvenal;  and,  as  a 
substantive,  from  Cicero  (Fin.  2,  1,  3,  which  is  the  only  instance  shown 
by  Merguet;  and  Meusel  has  no  example  at  all  for  Caesar),  Livy,  Quin- 
tilian, and  Tacitus  (Dial.  4).  Cf.  Macr.  Sat.  5,  1,  4  (Jahn),  where  the 
words  torrens,  fluit,  and  redundat  are  employed  in  describing  the  style 
of  Cicero. 

unda:  Ep.  40,  8  perennis  sit  unda,  non  torrens.  Seneca  is  here  discuss- 
ing the  style  of  speaking  which  is  suitable  for  philosophy. 

vertex:  Ep.  82,  3  in  istis  officiorum  verticibus  volutari.  As  parallels 
Lexx.  cite  only  Cat.  68,  107  (amoris)  and  Sil.  4,  230  (pugnae). 

Comparisons:  Ep.  74,  25  (virtue  compared  to  a  SPRING). 
Ep.  58,  22-23  (physical  changes  in  the  different  periods  of 
life,  to  a  RIVER;  leading  to  a  quotation  from  Heraclitus). 
Here  may  also  be  included  Ep.  22,  12  (if  Lucilius  hesitates 
in  order  that  he  may  consider  how  much  he  will  carry  with 
him  in  his  retirement  from  public  life,  he  will  never  make  his 
escape.  Nemo  cum  sarcinis  enatat.  Emerge  ad  meliorem 


172  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

vitam)  ;  23,  8  (those  who  have  no  plans  in  life  are  like  objects 
floating  in  a  stream),  where  the  details  of  the  second  member 
of  the  comparison  are  very  prettily  worked  out;  and  122,  19 
(struggling  against  nature  compared  to  rowing  upstream). 
Ep.  4,  5,  many  men  cling  to  life  as  those  swept  away  by  a 
TOEEENT  cling  even  to  objects  which  are  rough  and  thorny; 
85,  6  (the  passions,  to  a  torrent).  Ep.  36,  2  (a  popular  man 
to  a  LAKE,  which  the  crowds  seek  only  to  drink  from  it  and  roil 
it).  Ep.  55,  6  (formal  comparison  of  a  river  to  an  artificial 
CHANNEL). 


III.     GENERAL   NOTIONS 

There  remain  about  a  thousand  other  examples  which,  follow- 
ing the  course  pursued  by  Bliimner  (op.  cit.,  pp.  3-21),  I  have 
thrown  together  under  this  heading;  subdividing  them,  how- 
ever, into  two  sections,  according  as  they  are  connected  with 
"  Properties  of  Material  Objects "  or  "  Words  Indicating 
General  Actions."  They  include  such  ideas  as  relative  position, 
height  and  depth,  emptiness  and  fulness,  softness  and  hardness, 
size,  solidity,  smoothness,  etc.,  and  verbs  of  adhering,  begin- 
ning, breaking,  carrying,  ceasing,  enclosing,  expelling,  falling, 
following,  giving,  growing,  holding,  leaving,  lifting,  mixing, 
placing,  pulling,  rising,  seizing,  slipping,  standing,  stretching, 
taking  away,  throwing,  thrusting,  and  trying,  and  of  motion 
and  rest  in  general. 

Some  of  these  words,  in  certain  instances,  might  have  found 
a  place  in  one  or  the  other  of  the  preceding  divisions,  and  a 
more  or  less  forced  interpretation  of  others  could  also  have 
assigned  them  to  a  more  definite  sphere ;  but,  as  nothing  would 
have  been  gained  by  that  method,  it  seemed  better  to  do  as 
Bliimner  has  done,  and  leave  them  all  under  these  general  head- 
ings. The  very  fact  that  it  is  so  difficult  and  often  impossible 
to  classify  them  more  closely,  in  accordance  with  the  plan 
adopted,  is  evidence  that  most  of  them  do  not  present  any  very 
definite  picture  in  their  tropical  application,  and,  as  they  are 
of  value  rather  as  bearing  upon  the  question  of  phraseology 
in  general  than  in  connection  with  our  main  theme — the  spheres 
from  which  Seneca  derived  his  figurative  expressions — I  shall 
only  give  here  the  alphabetical  lists  of  the  words  involved,  with 
the  references.  So  far  as  these  examples  have  any  bearing 
upon  the  principal  object  of  the  present  investigation,  they  only 
tend  to  corroborate  the  conclusions  derived  from  the  ones 
already  considered. 


173 


174  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 


A.    PROPERTIES  OF  MATERIAL  OBJECTS 

Aequalis:  104,  28.  Aequare:  91,  16.  Altus:  90,  44;  115,  4;  115,  9. 
Angulus:  68,  2;  86,  5;  119,  8.  Anguste:  65,  24.  Angustus:  85,  22;  90, 
38;  99,  9;  117,  32.  Ante:  73,  3;  84,  11.  Apud  (aput)  :  49,  2;  52,  10; 
83,  26;  118,  4.  Artus:  102,  22.  Asper:  100,  6. 

Circa:  ,80,  2;  88,  3;  101,  2;  117,  18.  Citra:  74,  26;  83,  17;  101,  14; 
102,  17.  Conrotundare:  113,  22.  Cum:  9,  16;  32,  1;  58,  32;  64,  1;  94, 
42.  Curvare:  100,  7  (?). 

Declinatio:  122,  17.  Devexus:  12,  5;  114,  16.  Durus:  25,  1  (in  con- 
nection with  intractabilem,  reformari,  and  tenera). 

Emollire:  92,  10.  Erectus:  9,  13;  23,  3;  45,  9;  82,  22;  91,  3;  94,  30; 
100,  8;  124,  12.  Evanidus:  35,  3.  Exasperare:  14,  8;  83,  26;  85,  8. 
Excelsum:  64,  5;  66,  31.  Excelsus:  45,  9;  74,  30;  84,  13;  104,  23;  118, 
6.  Explanatus:  83,  21.  Extenuare:  6,  1;  117,  19.  Extra:  75,  9;  94,  1; 

98,  3. 

Figura:  113,  7.  Figurare:  66,  7;  90,  29.  Firmare:  66,  31;  91,  7;  117, 
21.  Firmus:  98,  1;  98,  10.  Foedare:  66,  4.  Forma:  66,  9;  84,  8  (cf. 
A.  J.  Kronenberg,  in  Class.  Quart.,  July,  1907,  p.  207);  90,  28;  95,  72; 
108,  7.  Formare:  50,  5;  90,  26;  91,  15;  94,  47;  106,  4;  112,  1;  117,  25. 
Fragilis:  66,  11;  91,  16;  98,  1;  98,  10. 

Humilis:    100,  8;    118,  6.     Humilitas:    120,  21. 

Implere:  19,  7;  71,  27;  92,  31;  93,  2;  95,  61;  104,  28;  120,  7.  Inania: 
90,  28.  Inclinabilis :  94,  40.  Inclinatio:  24,  25;  49,  3;  53,  2;  114,  1. 
For  inclinare,  see  p.  178.  Inconcussus:  59,  14;  66,  40;  67,  14.  Incon- 
stans:  95,  19.  Incurvare:  82,  11;  104,  24.  Indurare:  106,  6;  cf.  p.  55. 
Indurescere:  50,  5;  112,  3.  Inexsuperabilis :  85,  19;  111,  2.  Infernus: 
94,  58.  Infra:  75,  8.  Inhabilis:  15,  3;  104,  10;  cf.  J.  E.  B.  MAYOR,  in 
E.  J.  P.  vn  (1877),  pp.  151-2.  Inquinare:  59,  9;  94,  59.  Inreparabilis : 
123,  10.  Inspurcare:  87,  16.  Integer:  85,  7.  Intempestivus :  88,  37. 
Inter:  93,  10.  Interior:  48,  3.  Intervallum:  49,  11:  66,  14;  92,  15; 

99,  9;   118,  7.     Intra:  9,  18;  95,  33.     Intus:  80,  10. 

Late:  100,  5.  Latus:  76,  31.  Laxamentum:  7,  3.  Laxare:  15,  2;  83, 
20;  108,  2.  Laxitas:  66,  14.  Lentus:  30,  8;  100,  7.  Lividus:  83,  20. 
Locare:  92,  15.  Locus:  41,  4;  49,  3;  70,  16;  86,  3;  88,  20;  91,  13;  99,  4; 
99,  12.  Longinquus:  94,  53.  Lubricum:  71,  28;  75,  10;  84,  12;  92,  10; 
116,  6.  Lubricus:  1,  3;  94,  73;  99,  9;  101,  11  (in  a  quotation). 

Maculare:  81,  27.  Maiestas:  9,  12;  79,  10;  102,  20.  Medium:  83,  16; 
93,  10;  100,  5.  Medius:  22,  14.  Minutatim:  66,  43.  Mobilis:  85,  7;  92, 
29;  94,  30;  99,  9.  Moles:  89,  2;  107,  10;  117,  31.  Mollire:  36,  1;  98,  3. 
Mollis:  100,  7.  Molliter:  99,  1;  100,  6.  Mundus:  70,  21. 

Nitidus:  Lib.  xxn   (Exc.  Gell.),  9. 

Obfirmare:   98,  7.     Obrigescere:   82,  2. 

Par:  117,  33.  Patere:  33,  11;  44,  2;  cf.  p.  112.  Pernix:  108,  27. 
Planus:  84,  13;  100,  8;  111,  4.  Plenus:  61,  4;  71,  16;  85,  23;  93,  2; 


Properties  of  Material  Objects  175 

98,  15;  100,  12;  101,  4;  102,  17;  109,  1.  Positio:  64,  4;  85,  14.  Post: 
73,  3;  84,  11.  Praeposterus :  23,  1.  Pravus:  98,  3.  Profundum:  49,  3. 
Profundus:  89,  22;  99,  10.  Pronus:  94,  13;  95,  37;  97,  10.  Proper  75, 
9;  81,  8.  Pulvis:  89,  3;  cf.  p.  77.  Purus:  100,  10;  124,  23.  Puter: 
12,  1.  Putide:  75,  1.  Putidus:  96,  5. 

Rapidus:  117,  32.  Receptaculum :  92,  34.  Rectus:  66,  2;  88,  13;  95, 
39;  98,  3.  Ref  ractarius :  73,  I.1  Ref rigescere :  16,  6;  74,  31.  Retro:  122, 
18.  Rigere:  99,  15.  Rigidare:  71,  20  (text  and  interpretation  are  some- 
what doubtful;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  cf.  Schweighauser's  Notae  ad  loc). 
Rigidus:  11,  10;  21,  3;  81,  4.  Rigor:  67,  1.  Rima:  86,  8. 

Segnis:  79,  2.  Sincerus:  66,  17.  Solidus:  23,  5;  27,  2;  53,  12;  56,  11; 
66,  31;  90,  28;  99,  3;  100,  12;  115,  18.  Solutus:  23,  4;  89,  18;  102,  30; 
108,  8;  122,  17.  Solvere:  26,  4;  51,  3;  66,  43;  71,  13;  82,  2;  84,  2;  95, 
18;  95,  38;  109,  18.  Sordes:  94,  59;  114,  13.  Sordidus:  53,  1;  100,  5; 
110,  12;  114,  10.  Spatiose:  89,  21.  Spatiosus:  74,  29;  88,  33.  Spatium: 
91,  2;  93,  8;  100,  11.  Spissus:  81,  22.  Spurcus:  86,  12  (involving  a 
word-play  with  munda) .  Stabilire:  101,9.  Stabilis:  18,10.  Stabilitas: 
71,  27.  Sub:  84,  13;  92,  16;  114,  17.  Sublimitas:  92,  33.  Summus:  84, 
13;  92,  2;  118,  6.  Superior:  117,  33.  Supra:  70,  22;  71,  25;  111,  4. 

Tardus:  90,  34;  124,  4.  Tener:  7,  6;  11,  3;  108,  12;  114,  20.  Tenuis: 
79,  18;  95,  17;  101,  1.  Trans:  55,  7.  Transversus:  114,  8. 

Una:  40,  1.  Unde:  88,  34;  99,  22;  see  J.  Bartsch,  in  Rh.  Mus.  xxrv 
(1869),  p.  282. 

Velocitas:  40,  8;  49,  2.  Vicinia:  75,  9.  Vicinus:  30,  7;  109,  15;  120, 
9.  Vitiare:  74,  23;  83,  21;  83,  26;  114,  3.  Vitium:  123,  14. 


The  comparisons  which  may  be  included  here  are :  Ep.  9,  17 
(THINGS  IN  GENERAL);  71,  14;  99,  21;  106,  12.  Ep.  19,  6 
(CAUSES).  Ep.  72,  3  (ELASTICITY).  Ep.  95,  12  (ELEMEN- 
TARY MATERIAL).  Ep.  118,  17  (INFINITY,  INDIVISIBILITY, 
IMMOBILITY).  Ep.  122,  17  (STRAIGHT  and  CROOKED).  Ep. 
124,  10  (FIRST  and  LAST,  BEGINNING  and  CONSUMMATION). 


lfThis  is  the  only  example  of  the  word  given  by  Lexx.  For  formation 
and  sphere  of  use,  see  PAUCKER  in  Kuhn's  Ztschr.  xxvii  (1885),  p.  138; 
COOPEE,  "  Sermo  Pleb.,"  p.  147 ;  and  Stolz,  "  Hist.  Gram,  der  lat.  Spr.," 
I,  pp.  280,  467  and  471;  and  cf.  "  Ref  ractatio  "  in  Du  Cange,  "Gloss.  Med. 
et  Inf.  Lat.,"  VH,  p.  81. 


176  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 


B.    WOEDS  INDICATING   GENERAL  ACTIONS 

Abdere:  90,  17.  Abicere:  81,  8;  114,  7;  121,  18.  Abigere:  36,  11;  88, 
29;  94,  55;  124,  1.  Abradere:  88,  11.  Abrurnpere:  30,  15;  100,  6.  Ab- 
scondere:  84,  7;  94,  71;  110,  10.  Abstrahere:  51,  5;  88,  19.  Accessio: 
92,  24.  Accipere:  70,  5.  Actio:  102,  19.  Actus:  102,  21.  Adfigere: 
67,  2.  Adfligere:  74,  18.  Adhaerere:  21,  6.  Adicere:  90,  39.  Adigere: 
98,  12.  Adlevare:  76,  27;  110,  3.  Admiscere:  116,  3.  Admovere:  95, 
4;  98,  18.  Adpetere:  122,  2.  Adpetitio:  124,  3.  Adplicare:  21,  4;  95, 
55;  105,  5;  115,  1.  Adsidere:  72,  3;  100,  10.  Adstricte:  8,  10.  Ad- 
strictus:  123,  13.  Adstringo:  48,  5;  94,  23;  100,  7;  108,  10;  110,  5. 
Adtemperare:  30,  8.  Adtollere:  76,  17;  93,  9.  Adtrahere:  30,  15;  87,  33; 
118,  8.  Advertere:  94,  25.  Agere:  95,  10;  104,  29;  cf.  pp.  73,  85,  103, 
125,  127,  and  138.  Agilis:  15,  2;  74,  16.  Agitare:  94,  26;  119,  5;  cf. 
pp.  88  and  125.  Alligare:  55,  2.  Amittere:  90,  38.  Aperire:  42,  3; 
67,  1;  79,  5;  95,  61.  Aptare:  93,  6.  Arcere:  8,  5;  90,  5.  Attollere:  6,  1; 
30,  1;  66,  6;  66,  31;  74,  17;  100,  12;  117,  19.  Auferre:  1,  1;  40,  4} 

74,  23;    100,    4.     Augere:    90,    5.     Avellere:    30,    12;    95,    35.     Aversatio: 
97,    16.     Avertere:    85,   39;    114,   21. 

Cadere:  20,  8;  21,  1;  22,  3;  31,  11;  36,  1;  36,  11;  42,  5;  74,  33;  83, 
4;  83,  23;  88,  13;  95,  70;  100,  7;  102,  4;  110,  3;  110,  4;  113,  4;  114,  17; 
120,  17;  124,  6.  Caducus:  58,  24.  Capere:  112,  1.  Casus:  23,  7.  Cedere: 
65,  1;  82,  21;  85,  28.  Celare:  120,  5  Cessare:  47,  16.  Circumferre: 
62,  3;  94,  7;  108,  36;  109,  5.  Circumicere:  102,  25.  Circuniscribere : 
15,  2.  Circumsedere :  9,  9.  Coactor:  52,  4.  Coartare:  94,  27;  119,  10. 
Cogere:  85,  22;  94,  37;  100,  5.  Cohaerere:  89,  8;  90,  3;  102,  6;  102, 
28;  106,  3.  Coicere:  80,  5;  88,  45.  Colligere:  6,  1;  49,  6;  100,  11;  101,  9; 
116,  8;  120,  4;  121,  19.  Commimiere :  48,  9.  Commovere:  35,  4.  Compri- 
mere:  79,  17;  120,  11.  Concinnare:  7,  6;  117,  1.  Concitare:  85,  7;  99,  24; 
116,  3;  116,  8;  123,  13;  124,  18.  Concludere:  74,  28.  Concutere:  14,  4;  58, 
35;  94,  67;  115,  18.  Condere:  79,  17;  88,  29;  cf.  pp.  39  and  146.  Con- 
ferre:  55,  7;  55,  8;  78,  4;  94,  29;  109,  4.  Congerere:  31,  3;  76,  30; 
94,  54.  Conicere:  48,  9;  56,  9;  88,  34;  94,  63.  Coniti:  94,  31.  Conpetere: 

75,  6;    84,   8.     Conponere:    89,   9;    94,   1;    100,  2;    102,    18;    123,   6;    cf.   p. 
38.     Conrumpere:    91,   12.     Considere:    94,   23;    117,   4.     Consistere:    2,   1; 
87,  17;    120,  1.     Constare:   22,   16;    74,  12;   83,  27;   88,  18;    88,  20;   92,  2; 
cf.   p.   104.     Consurgere:    87,   16;    91,  5;    91,   9.     Conterere:    22,   8;    71,   6. 
Continere:   87,  2;  94,  25;  95,  12;   95,  58;   106,  4.     Contingere:   32,  4;    110, 
3.     Continuare:    30,    1  (?).     Contorquere:    79,    1.     Contrahere:    20,   3;    82, 
22;  99,  15;  108,  18;   110,  4;   120,  21;   123,  4.     Convellere:   58,  35.     Conver- 
tere:    119,   11.     Convolvere:   65,  19;   94,  67.     Corrigere:   98,  3.     Corripere: 
120,    18.     Crescere:    45,  2;    71,   16;    78,   27;    79,  6;    82,  21;    88,  22;    98,    1; 
101,  1;    111,  4;    115,  11.     Cumulare:   99,  13. 

Decidere:  15,  8;  75,  9;  92,  23;  95,  57;  95,  70.  Decrescere:  24,  20.  De- 
fringere:  92,  2.  Deicere:  67,  10;  71,  12;  92,  26;  110,  4  (in  a  word-play 
with  eicere).  Delabi:  16,  6;  108,  35.  Delitescere:  105,  2.  Demittere: 


Words  Indicating  General  Actions  177 

20,  1;  45,  11;  67,  13;  71,  6;   108,  9.     Demissus:  92,  9.     Depellere:  92,  26. 
De'ponere:  30,  4;  74,  18;   108,  6.     Deprimere:  43,  2;  47,  10;   66,  6;  72,  9; 
76,  17;  79,  10;  92,  16;  92,  30;   117,  19.     Desilire:   76,  29.     Desinere:   100, 
7.'  Detinere:   8,  1;  20,  2;  81,  25;  95,  46;   114,  11;   114,  16;   115,  10.     De- 
torquere:  13,  12.     Detraliere:  79,  10;  91,  4;  94,  6;  94,  21   (in  a  quotation)  ; 
102,  20;   102,  25    (3  times);   103,  5;    115,  16.     Detrimentum :    122,  1.     De- 
volvere:   92,  23.     Diducere:    32,  2;   45,  9;   49,  11;   75,  8;   78,  10;    102,  6; 
122,  2.     Digerere:   95,   19;    108,  1.     Dilatare:    20,  3;    87,  32;   90,  39;    120, 

21.  Dimittere:  53,  9;  60,  3;  71,  13;  83,  23;  99,  22;   102,  27.     Discerpere: 
51,  8;  59,  10.     Discutere:  28,  1;  34,  1;  49,  11;  50,  4;  56,  9;  70,  15;  95,  8; 
95,  34;    102,  28;   104,  13;   105,  5.     Disicere:   23,  6;   79,  12.     Dissilire:   71, 
9;    113,  26.     Dissipare:    91,  6;    100,  6.     Dissolutio:    3,  5.     Dissolvere:    45, 
5;    92,    10.     Distare:    71,    33.     Distorquere:    48,    4;    122,    17.     Distractus: 
66,  24.     Disturbare:    114,   15.     Distringere:    2,  3;    74,   8;    75,   16;    90,   16; 
104,    7.     Divellere:     6,    2;    77,    16.     Dividere:    24,    20;     65,    1;     117,    32. 
Divulsio:  99,  15. 

Efferre:  59,  4;  63,  1;  74,  18;  90,  13;  100,  10;  111,  2;  115,  4;  120,  11. 
Egerere:  91,  12;  118,  5.  Eicere:  54,  7;  110,  4.  Elabi:  63,  3;  77,  10; 
94,  25.  Elidere:  15,  2;  24,  14;  36,  1;  66,  20;  70,  20.  Elisio:  99,  19. 
Eluere:  59,  9.  Emendare:  124,  23.  Emicare:  79,  12.  Eminere:  8,  3; 
19,  2;  33,  4;  71,  5;  74,  18;  84,  13;  100,  9;  110,  3.  Emittere:  30,  12; 
70,  19;  76,  25;  95,  72;  101,  14;  110,  4.  Eradere:  11,  6;  91,  10;  104,  20. 
Erepere:  76,  19;  101,  2.  Erigere:  78,  3;  94,  29;  104,  31.  Eripere:  1,  1; 
19,  1;  45,  5;  70,  13;  77,  17;  82,  14;  94,  36;  104,  15;  108,  37;  122,  7. 
Eruere:  79,  14;  90,  26;  99,  28.  Erumpere:  70,  23;  91,  7.  Evadere:  22, 
9;  29,  9  (twice);  70,  19;  79,  14;  117,  23;  cf.  vadere,  p.  123.  Exagitare: 
92,  29.  Excidere:  1,  1;  33,  6;  53,  9;  81,  23;  82,  7;  88,  39;  98,  11;  99,  5; 
100,  1.  Excipere:  53,  6;  55,  7;  67,  11;  79,  14;  91,  10;  95,  18  (cf.  21,  10)  ; 
114,  24.  Excitare:  88,  28;  89,  21;  90,  13;  90,  41;  91,  13;  94,  25;  94,  29; 
100,  11.  Excussus:  108,  10.  Excutere:  7,  6;  11,  1 ;  11,  2;  16,  7;  45,  2; 
49,  6;  58,  5;  72,  1;  75,  10;  78,  8;  80,  2;  82,  8;  83,  7;  84,  1;  85,  41;  90,, 
29;  91,  12;  101,  15;  102,  24;  109,  16;  110,  5;  116,  8  (in  a  word-play  with 
excusare);  118,  2;  119,  15;  121,  4;  121,  5;  123,  9.  Exercere:  15,  8. 
Exilire:  17,  9;  40,  11;  66,  11;  100,  7.  Eximere:  58,  29;  95,  46.  Expan- 
dere:  94,  70.  Expellere:  1,  3;  75,  18;  88,  18;  94,  6;  94,  33;  94,  68;  99^ 
26;  116,  3;  120,  16.  Explicabilis :  101,  8  (?).  Explicare:  42,  3;  66,  7;, 
76,  15;  88,  36;  94,  29;  95,  32;  100,  6;  109,  6;  109,  15.  Explication 
114,  1.  Exprimere:  6,  6;  89,  19.  Extare:  84,  13;  115,  4.  Extendere:  20,. 
3;  40,  3;  85,  21;  92,  30;  93,  1;  102,  21;  110,  4.  Extollere:  87,  16;  87,. 
32;  124,  23.  Extorquere:  67,  10.  Extrahere:  52,  6;  70,  19;  94,  24;  95, 
37.  Exturbare:  51,  13.  Exurgere:  31,  11;  41,  2;  78,  17. 

Ferire:  57,  3;  83,  7;  88,  22;  94,  43;  100,  11;  108,  11;  117,  21  (may  be 
regarded  as  a  military  metaphor)  ;  122,  8.  Ferre:  9,  17;  9,  19;  22,  4;  22, 
12;  71,  1;  87,  5;  94,  65;  104,  17;  108,  4;  110,  7.  Figere:  84,  8;  94,  6; 
100,  1;  107,  5.  Fovere:  95,  70.  Frangere:  26,  1;  66,  6;  82,  22;  88,  29; 
100,  10;  104,  13;  112,  1;  115,  2.  Frequentare:  79,  17. 

Gerere:   66,  1;   102,  19.     Gestare:   104,  19;   123,  8    (twice). 


178  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Haerere:   65,  22;   74,  18;   81,  23;   82,  5;    101,  2;   101,  6;    111,  1;    121,  1; 
123,  9.     Haesitare:    82,  19. 

lacere:   8,  8;  24,  25;   33,  6;  49,  3;  58,  34;  59,  9;  71,  25;   82,  2;   95,  16; 

118,  6;   120,  21.     lactare:  95,  54;  96,  5;  98,  8;   99,  9;   104,  27.     lactatio: 
2,   1;   28,  2;   28,  3;   95,  58;    104,   14;    104,  29    (according  to  Hense's  con- 
jecture,  but   cf.  A.   J.   Kronenberg  in  Class.   Quart.   I,   p.   211);    120,  20. 
Ictus:   57,  3;   72,   10;   76,  34;   94,  43;   99,  18;    100,  8.     Imminere:    101,  2. 
Impellere   (inp-)  :  26,  4;  91,  7;  94,  29;   120,  17.     Impetus    (inp-)  :  24,  24; 
46,  2    (twice);  99,  1;   100,  3;   101,  4;   118,  9.     Incidere:   17,  9;  22,  4;   24, 
19;   72,  6;    114,  13;   114,  18;   115,  16;    116,  5;   120,  4;   120,  12.     Incidere: 
93,    6;    101,   5;    cf.    p.   95.     Incitare:    11,   5;    78,   9;    90,    19;    114,   20.     In- 
clinare:   67,  1;   91,  3;    114,  22;   for  inclinabilis  and  inclinatio,  see  p.   174. 
Incubare:   76,  30;   94,  74.     Incumbere:   30,  1.     Incutere:    119,  9;    123,   15. 
Indeclinabilis :   66,  13;   74,  29.     Indisposite:    124,  19.     Iners:    95,  25.     In- 
excitabilis:   83,  15.     Inexercitatus :   94,  29;   94,  32.     Inexplicabilis :    74,  6; 
95,  29.     Inferre:  90,  38.     Infigere:  95,  44;  97,  16.     Infringere:  74,  26;  90, 
19;  102,  2;   114,  1.     Ingerere:   12,  11;  29,  7;  59,  17;  91,  5;  94,  25;  94,  55; 
99,    16;    101,   6;    105,   3;    114,   25;    123,    10.     Inicere:    108,    17.     Inlidere: 
76,  30.     Inligare:    16,   6;    45,  5;    77,   12.     Inminere:   2,  6;    15,   6    (though 
here  it  probably  reverts  to  the  literal  meaning)  ;   78,   12.     Inmiscere:    87, 
27.     Inmittere:  40,  6;  74,  34;  104,  28;  106,  9;  114,  12;  119,  5.     Inmorari: 
2,  2;  40,  4;  88,  1.     Inniti:  92,  2;  98,  1.     Inpendere  (imp-)  :  14,  4;  117,  31. 
Inpingere:  4,  11;  29,  10;  74,  21;  95,  3;  95,  37;   117,  1;   119,  6.     Inplicare 
(imp-)  :  22,  3;  22,  8;  48,  9;  49,  12;  75,  11   (cf.  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  A.  J. 
Kronenberg  in  Class.  Quart.  I,  p.  212,  footnote)  ;   104,  15;  105,  5;   109,  18. 
Inponere:  45,  3;  77,  14;  92,  33;  99,  8;   110,  14   (in  a  quotation);   115,  9. 
Inprimere:   106,  5;   114,  20.     Inrepere:  38,  1;  105,  6.     Inrumpere:  87,  41; 

90,  38;   117,  21    (twice).     Inserere:   91,   10;   94,  53;    108,  9;    121,  17.     In- 
sidere:   33,  6;   95,  37.     Insignire:    18,  4;    114,  4.     Insinuare:    95,   35.     In- 
stare:    22,   4;    24,  26;    71,   35;    108,    12;    114,   24.     Insurgere:    40,   8.     In- 
temptatus:    66,  52.     Intendere:    66,   12;    71,   16;    71,   19;    78,   15;    92,  24; 
110,  6.     Intentare:   14,  6.     Intentio:   71,  28;  71,  35;  78,  7.     Interesse:  83, 
1;    123,   10.     Intermittere :    36,   10.     Interquiescere :    46,  2.     Interrumpere : 

24,  10.     Interscindere :    72,   4.     Intervenire:    14,    12;    83,    1    (twice).     In- 
vadere:  11,  4;  19,  3;  70,  28;  82,  19;  91,  5;  95,  33;  98,  14;  104,  6;  108,  2; 

119,  12;  122,  4.     Invenire:  70,  25;  79,  16;  90,  7;  90,  31;  92,  33.     Involvere: 

25,  4;  26,  5;  94,  58;  95,  61;   114,  4.     lunctura:   114,  15.     lungere:  94,  29. 
Labare:   71,  35;    92,  28;   95,  71;    114,  22;    117,  21.     Labefacere:    76,  17. 

Labi:  74,  18;  89,  22;  92,  23;  100,  1;  102,  25;  114,  15.  Latebra:  19,  2; 
56,  9;  82,  4.  Latere:  14,  6;  45,  7;  55,  4;  66,  1;  79,  14;  79,  17;  83,  20; 
84,  9;  95,  22;  110,  14  (in  a  quotation).  Latitare:  104,  22.  Levare:  36, 
11;  99,  15;  117,  19. 

Miscere:  3,  3;   72,  7;  78,  28;  90,  34;   99,  27;   102,  22;   102,  28;   109,  4j 
109,  14;    118,   10;    119,  12.     Mittere:    19,  5;   24,  3;   33,  4;   62,  2;   88,  29; 

91,  17;  92,  26;  93,  10   (twice);  94,  53.     Moliri:  90,  26.     Monstrare:   19,  3. 
Mora:  7,  4;  58,  29;  71,  36;  78,  9;  91,  6;  91,  18;  94,  18;   101,  2;   102,  23. 
Morari:   2,  1;  32,  2;   82,  19;  93,  3;  94,  5;   111,  5.     Movere:  36,  1;   40,  4; 


Words  Indicating  General  Actions  179 

94,  36;  94,  50;  104,  6;  104,  28  (twice)  ;  114,  8.  Mulcere:  87,  40.  Mutare: 
47,  21. 

Niti:  92,  30;  94,  31;   95,  19;  99,  14.     Nutare:  35,  4;   122,  8. 

Obiacere:  115,  6.  Obicere:  81,  27;  87,  34.  Obniti:  82,  23;  120,  10. 
Obrepere:  82,  10.  Obruere:  36,  11;  40,  3;  86,  8;  104,  6  (the  text  ia 
doubtful;  see  Hense's  ap.  crit.  and  A.  J.  Kronenberg  in  Class.  Quart.  I,  p. 
210);  115,  6.  Obstare:  52,  7;  66,  3;  83,  19;  94,  18;  94,  56;  95,  8;  95, 
38;  104,  29.  Obstrigillare :  115,  6.  Obtegere:  115,  7.  Occupare:  22,  14; 
24,  25;  33,  11;  52,  6;  53,  9;  70,  12;  79,  12;  82,  5;  94,  68;  100,  3;  108,  27; 
110,  13;  119,  12;  122,  14.  Offendere:  96,  1.  Offensio:  92,  24.  Opera: 
98,  16;  99,  4.  Operari:  117,  26.  Operosus:  95,  32;  cf.  95,  14.  Opponere: 
43,  3;  65,  21;  85,  37;  115,  6.  Opprimere:  66,  20;  71,  37;  94,  31.  Opus: 
90,  3;  92,  17;  98,  17. 

Patefacere:  83,  22.  Pellere:  90,  39.  Pendere:  15,  9;  22,  3;  33,  8;  72, 
4;  90,  9;  98,  1;  99,  5;  114,  11;  117,  3;  118,  3;  cf.  under  "Weights  and 
Measures,"  p.  112.  Penetrabilis :  64,  5.  Penetrare:  94,  44.  Percutere: 
21,  2;  34,  4;  71,  19;  102,  28;  114,  15.  Perdere:  12,  7.  Perferre:  58,  34; 
92,  30;  108,  8.  Perfringere:  66,  49.  Periculum  facere:  59,  6;  100,  4. 
Permiscere:  95,  19;  114,  3.  Perplexus:  83,  8;  95,  29.  Perrumpere:  66, 
3;  89,  2.  Persequi:  89,  22;  121,  4.  Pertrahere:  110,  9.  Perturbare:  45, 
9;  95,  28.  Perturbatio:  100,  2.  Plicare:  95,  2.  Ponere:  9,  2;  40,  7; 
76,  32;  90,  38;  98,  3;  102,  27;  124,  23.  Porrigere:  92,  30;  114,  11.  Prae- 
cedere:  81,  25  (this  example  should  be  added  to  those  given  in  Antib.1,  II, 
p.  345  f.).  Praecldere:  24,  11;  53,  1;  66,  42;  78,  27;  114,  11.  Praeferre: 
14,  6;  100,  2.  Praemittere:  5,  8;  78,  12;  91,  4;  99,  7.  Praeoccupare : 
75,  16;  94,  13.  Praeponere:  124,  4.  Praeripere:  79,  5.  Praesistere:  24, 
4.  Praestare:  88,  30;  95,  41;  105,  4;  119,  15.  Praestringere :  48,  11; 
110,  17  (in  a  quotation).  Praesumere:  24,  1;  74,  33;  91,  8.  Premere:  23, 
7;  24,  26;  76,  30;  81,  22;  90,  7;  91,  16;  97,  14;  98,  17;  101,  5.  Presse: 
114,  21.  Procidere:  114,  11.  Procumbere:  18,  3;  114,  22.  Producere: 
7,  9;  105,  6;  110,  2;  115,  4;  121,  18.  Proferre:  19,  3;  40,  12;  79,  10;  90, 
28.  Proicere:  28,  7;  40,  7;  51,  13;  78,  4;  92,  35;  99,  13;  108,  16;  117, 
6;  124,  5.  Prolabi:  24,  26;  63,  1.  Promere:  94,  53.  Prominere:  101,  9. 
Promovere:  101,  1.  Propellere:  90,  17.  Prosilire:  92,  34;  94,  56.  Pro- 
sternere:  26,  4.  Protegere:  103,  4.  Protrahere:  83,  20;  90,  34;  119,  9. 
Pungere:  100,  11.  Purgare:  98,  14. 

Quatere:   30,  1;  91,  4.     Quiescere:   49,  1;  91,  2. 

Rapax:  95,  36.  Rapere:  40,  4;  51,  6;  93,  1  (twice);  95,  36;  99,  31; 
100,  3;  101,  4;  108,  37;  109,  18.  Recldere:  72,  6;  81,  19.  Recipere:  15, 
8;  50,  9;  64,  10;  65,  1;  79,  14;  95,  34;  108,  2.  Recondere:  9,  16;  19,  3. 
Reddere:  104,  15;  123,  2.  Redigere:  39,  6;  84,  2;  88,  29;  90,  38;  108,  27. 
Referre:  36,  11;  81,  9-10  (discusses  the  difference  between  gratiam  referre 
and  gratiam  reddere)  ;  100,  3;  101,  4;  110,  8.  Reformare:  25,  1.  Relabi: 
75,  13.  Relaxare:  94,  23;  99,  19.  Religare:  113,  9.  Relinquere:  71,  35; 
100,  7;  102,  22.  Remissio,  53,  9.  Remittere:  15,  6;  23,  1;  23,  3;  66,  12; 
71,  19;  88,  17;  92,  23.  Repere:  95,  17.  Repercutere:  115,  6.  Reponere: 
36,  10;  94,  26;  94,  33;  95,  57.  Reprendere:  95,  46.  Reprimere:  90,  28. 


180  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

Repurgare:    66,   46.     Residere:    66,    11.     Resilire:    82,   6;    95,   48;    122,    1. 
Resistere:  94,  61;  110,  7.     Resolvere:   15,  6;  30,  11    (twice);  36,  1;  53,  1; 

91,  15.     Restare:    109,  3.     Resurgere:    94,  31;    123,  8.     Retegere:    102,  28. 
Retinere:  20,  7;   21,  1;   95,  37;   115,  6.     Retrahere:    66,  17;   79,  7.     Revel- 
lere:  95,  34;   102,  27.     Revolvere:  67,  1;  72,  6;  76,  19;  85,  25.     Rumpere: 
72,  4. 

Secernere:  92,  31;   102,  22.     Sedare:   8,  5.     Sedere:  90,  26;  95,  22;   115, 

II.  Sedes:    65,  20;    87,  4.     Seponere:    98,  4.     Servare:    1,   1;    70,   18;   79, 
8;   92,  2.     Sistere:   79,   10;    104,  19;    110,  9.     Stare:   41,  5;    71,  25;   92,  2; 

92,  26;  94,  74;  98,  15;  109,  9;  110,  3;  116,  6;  120,  17;   122,  5.     Strenere: 
91,  2.     Stringere:    107,  5.     Subesse:    120,  5.     Sublabi:    71,  35.     Sublevare: 
120,  10.     Submittere:   92,  2.     Submovere:   9,  13.     Subrepere:   7,  2;   89,  9; 
90,  6;   104,  1.     Subripere:   1,  1;  53,  1;   118,  8.     Subsidere:   13,  12;  22,  17; 
94,   69;    102,  29;    120,  21.     Subsilire:    31,   11.     Subsistere:    8,   3;    92,  23; 

94,  62.     Substituere:     74,    23.     Succidere:     71,    35.     Succurrere:     77,    18. 
Suggerere:  23,  6;  24,  11;   123,  17.     Summittere:  36,  9;  74,  30;  82,  11;  84, 
13;  90,  22;   98,  18.     Summovere:  41,  3;   94,  60;  99,  27.     Superiacere:   34, 
1.     Surgere:    44,   5;    46,   2;    91,   13;    95,   14;    99,   14;    122,   1.     Suspendere: 
23,  7;  41,  3;  58,  8;  78,  13;  84,  12;  90,  8;  97,  14;  98,  1;   101,  9.     Sustinere: 
104,  25. 

Temperare:  72,  7^;  74,  28;  84,  2;  107,  8.  Tenax:  66,  32;  92,  3.  Tenere: 
22,  11;  23,  6;  46,  1;  50,  7;  70,  15;  95,  35;  111,  5;  113,  11.  Terere:  117, 
20.  Titubare:  11,  2;  114,  22.  Tollere:  43,  2;  93,  10;  95,  70;  99,  32;  113, 
25  (?);  123,  4.  Torquere:  90,  24;  108,  10;  100,  2;  117,  5.  Tradere:  50, 
8;  62,  1;  78,  4;  83,  22;  90,  28;  95,  31;  99,  27;  107,  12;  110,  5;  110,  10; 

III,  2;  121,  23;   123,  8.     Traducere:   108,  14.     Traductio:   85,  1.     Trahere: 
46,  1;   77,   12;   88,  28;   94,  13;    100,   10;    101,   14    (twice);    114,   12;    110,  5 
(in  a  quotation);   121,  21;   Lib.  xxn    (Exc.  Gell.),  10.     Traicere:   83,  25; 

95,  8.     Transferre:   51,   11;   63,  3;   67,  7;   80,  2;   90,  29;   92,  22.     Transi- 
lire:  13,  6;  20,  4;  23,  7;  39,  5;  64,  2;  69,  1;  74,  34;  93,  5.     Transmittere : 
22,  17;  93,  4;  99,  5;   102,  4.     Trudere:  41,  9;  74,  21;   82,  19. 

Usus:    78,  20.     Uti:    90,   7.     Utilis:    102,   30. 

Vacillare:  114,  23.  Vergere:  23,  6;  78,  5;  81,  17.  Versare:  90,  41; 
110,  9;  114,  13.  Versari:  88,  3;  94,  26;  97,  1;  104,  21.  Vertere:  8,  4 
(evertere?);  91,  11;  104,  2.  Vexare:  89,  18;  91,  1.  Vibrare:  107,  5. 
Violare:  123,  16.  Vis:  53,  12;  65,  1;  70,  28;  102,  13.  Vitare:  114,  4. 
Volutare:  66,  17;  79,  12;  82,  3;  117,  19.  Volutatio:  48,  8;  71,  27;  99,  9; 
101,  9.  Volvere:  52,  8;  71,  1;  82,  20;  91,  7;  94,  67;  101,  5. 

The  only  comparisons  to  be  mentioned  under  this  head  are 
Ep.  109,  11  (mental  influence,  to  physical)  ;  and  Ep.  123,  14, 
where  the  different  attitude  of  those  who  descend  and  those  who 
ascend  leads,  through  an  implied  comparison,  to  a  metaphorical 
description  of  descending  into  pleasures  and  ascending  into 
difficulties. 


CONCLUSIONS 

As  a  result  of  our  study  we  now  feel  justified  in  drawing 
the  following  conclusions: 

The  range  of  Seneca's  metaphors  and  comparisons  is  very 
large,  covering,  with  a  few  exceptions  which  have  been  noted 
in  the  appropriate  places  (see  pp.  36,  45,  88,  89,  90,  133, 
150,  159,  and  167)  practically  the  entire  field  of  the  private 
and  public  life  of  the  ordinary  Roman,  and  demonstrating 
the  "  multa  rerum  cognitio  "  which  is  conceded  to  him  by  Quin- 
tilian,  Inst.  Or.  10,  1,  128.  His  favorite  sources  for  figurative 
expressions  are  the  human  body  and  its  affections,  especially 
diseases  (Seneca  himself  was  always  more  or  less  of  an  in- 
valid) ;  the  relations  of  master  and  slave ;  the  legal  and  financial 
spheres;  warfare  and  conflict;  and  the  various  phases  of  travel 
by  land  and  sea.  Not  only  is  the  total  of  metaphors  and  com- 
parisons a  large  one,  but  the  great  number  and  variety  of  the 
individual  expressions  used  is  particularly  noteworthy. 

The  great  majority  of  the  examples  are  drawn  from  the 
language  of  daily  life  (the  proverbial  character  of  many  of 
them  being  manifest),  and  from  the  commonplaces  of  the 
teachers  of  rhetoric  and  philosophy.  This  was  to  be  expected 
of  an  avowed  Stoic,  the  son  of  the  author  of  the  "  Contro- 
versiae  "  and  "  Suasoriae,"  the  pupil  of  Sotion  (cf.  Ep.  49, 
2  and  108,  17-20),  and  the  enthusiastic  admirer  of  Fabianus 
(cf.  Dial.  10,  10,  1;  Ep.  11,  4;  40,  12;  58,  6;  and  the  whole 
of  Ep.  100,  especially  sect.  12).  He  himself  does  not  hesitate 
to  indicate  in  a  number  of  instances  the  source  of  the  figure 
which  he  uses.  The  '  popular '  element  in  his  style,  which  is 
criticized  by  Gellius,  N.  A.  12,  2,  1,  appears  in  this  department 
of  it,  as  elsewhere;  though  here,  at  least,  it  may  be  reckoned 
a  merit  rather  than  a  fault  (cf.  H.  Weber,  "  De  Seneca  philos* 
dicendi  genere  Bioneo,"  pp.  39-41). 

Seneca's  claim  to  distinction  as  regards  the  use  of  metaphor 
and  simile  is  not  on  the  ground  of  originality  in  their  inven- 

181 


182  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

tion,  but  is  securely  based  upon  his  great  skill  in  the  application 
and  variation  of  those  already  familiar,  and  the  vividness  and 
detail  of  some  of  the  descriptions  with  which  he  accompanies 
them.  The  latter  characteristic  is  seen  in  such  passages  as 
Ep.  13,  2-3 :  "  Non  potest  athleta  magnos  spiritus  ad  certamen 
adferre,  qui  numquam  suggillatus  est:  ille,  qui  sanguinem 
suum  vidit,  cuius  dentes  crepuere  sub  pugno,  ille,  qui  subplan- 
tatus  adversarium  toto  tulit  corpore  nee  proiecit  animum  pro- 
iectus,  qui  quotiens  cecidit,  contumacior  resurrexit,  cum  magna 
spe  descendit  ad  pugnam.  Ergo,  ut  similitudinem  istam  pro- 
sequar,  saepe  iam  fortuna  supra  te  fuit,  nee  tamen  tradidisti 
te,  sed  subsiluisti  et  acrior  constitisti.  Multum  enim  adicit 
sibi  virtus  lacessita ;  "  Ep.  49,  6-9 :  "  Securi  est  et  ex  commodo 
migrantis  minuta  conquirere:  cum  hostis  instat  a  tergo  et 
movere  se  iussus  est  miles,  necessitas  excutit  quicquid  pax 
otiosa  collegerat.  Non  vacat  mihi  verba  dubie  cadentia  con- 
sectari  et  vafritiam  in  illis  meam  experiri.  l  Adspice  qui  co- 
eant  populi,  quae  moenia  clusis  ferrum  acuant  portis.' 
Magno  mihi  animo  strepitus  iste  belli  circumsonantis  exau- 
diendus  est.  Demens  omnibus  merito  viderer,  si  cum  saxa  in 
munimentum  murorum  senes  feminaeque  congererent,  cum 
iuventus  intra  portas  armata  signum  eruptionis  expectaret  aut 
posceret,  cum  hostilia  in  portis  tela  vibrarent  et  ipsum  solum 
suffossionibus  et  cuniculis  tremeret,  sederem  otiosus  et  eiusmodi 
quaestiunculas  ponens :  '  quod  non  perdidisti,  habes.  Cornua 
autem  non  perdidisti :  cornua  ergo  habes '  aliaque  ad  exemplum 
huius  acutae  delirationis  concinnata.  Atque  aeque  licet  tibi  de- 
mens  videar,  si  istis  nunc  inpendero  operam:  et  nunc  obsideor. 
Tune  tamen  periculum  mihi  obsesso  externum  inmineret,  murus 
me  ab  hoste  secerneret :  nunc  mortif era  mecum  sunt  "  (cf .  Ep. 
32,  3;  45,  9;  59,  7-8  quoted  from  Sextius;  82,  4-5;  and  113, 
27-28  taken  in  part  from  Posidonius)  ;  Ep.  73,  16  "  Semina 
in  corporibus  humanis  divina  dispersa  sunt,  quae  si  bonus 
cultor  excipit,  similia  origini  prodeunt  et  paria  iis,  ex  quibus 
orta  sunt,  surgunt :  si  malus,  non  aliter  quam  humus  sterilis  ac 
palustris  necat  ac  deinde  creat  purgamenta  pro  f rugibus ;  "  Ep. 


Conclusions  183 

70,  2-4,  where  life  is  compared  to  a  voyage  (cf.  Ep.  88,  7)  ; 
Ep.  107,  2-3,  where  life  is  compared  to  a  journey;  Ep.  74,  7-9, 
where  the  gifts  of  fortune  are  compared  to  the  distribution  of 
gifts  at  the  public  games;  and  Ep.  100,  5-6,  where  the  style 
of  Eabianus  is  compared  to  a  well-proportioned  house.     Other 
examples  are  Ep.  21,  10;  23,  8;  65,  3,  5-8,  13,  17;  66,  42-44; 

71,  12-16;  78,  5  (cf.  75,  6-7);  78,  15;  79,  13;  80,  3;  80,  7 
(cf.  120,  22)  ;  84,  6-7 ;  84,  12-13  ;  85,  41 ;  92,  17-18  ;  95,  15-19  ; 
95,  68-71;  102,  24-26;  102,  26-27;  102,  28   (cf.  110,  6-8); 
118,  2-4;  119,  1-2. 

We  gain  an  important  clue  to  our  author's  method  and  motive 
in  using  these  figures,  from  his  own  words  in  Ep.  59,  6  (com- 
menting upon  a  letter  from  Lucilius)  :  "  Invenio  tamen  transla- 
tiones  verborum  ut  non  temerarias  ita  quae  periculum  sui  fece- 
rint.  Invenio  imagines,  quibus  si  quis  nos  uti  vetat  et  poetis  illas 
solis  iudicat  esse  concessas,  neminem  mihi  videtur  ex  antiquis 
legisse,  apud  quos  nondum  captabatur  plausibilis  oratio:  illi, 
qui  simpliciter  et  demonstrandae  rei  causa  eloquebantur,  para- 
bolis  referti  sunt,  quas  existimo  necessarias,  non  ex  eadem  causa 
qua  poetis,  sed  ut  inbecillitatis  nostrae  adminicula  sint,  ut  et 
dicentem  et  audientem  in  rem  praesentem  adducant;"  and 
especially  Ep.  75,  2 :  "Si  fieri  posset,  quid  sentiam,  ostendere 
quam  loqui  mallem."  Cf.  Quint.  8,  3,  62 :  "  Magna  virtus  est, 
res,  de  quibus  loquimur,  clare  atque,  ut  cerni  videantur,  enun- 
tiare.  Non  enim  satis  eificit  neque,  ut  debet,  plene  dominatur 
oratio,  si  usque  ad  aures  valet,  atque  ea  sibi  index,  de  quibus 
cognoscit,  narrari  credit  non  exprimi  et  oculis  mentis  ostendi." 
It  is  his  desire  to  visualize,  as  it  were,  the  ethical  and  moral  prin- 
ciples which  he  advocates,  and  to  emphasize  and  perfect  the 
conception  of  them  by  presenting  them  from  as  many  different 
angles  as  possible,  which  leads  him  to  make  such  large  use  of 
illustrative  figures.1  Sometimes,  indeed,  this  desire,  in  connec- 

iaThe  rhetoricians  were  teachers,  and  being  teachers,  knew  the  value 
of  metaphor  and  simile,  which  lend  wings  to  the  seeds  of  doctrine,  and 
which  plant  them  in  the  field  of  the  ear."  B.  L.  GILDEBSLEEVE  in  A.  J.  P. 
xxiv  (1903),  p.  104. 


184  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

tion  with  the  comparatively  limited  circle  of  topics  which  he 
treats,  causes  him  to  overdo  the  matter  in  a  way  which  justifies 
Fronto's  criticism  of  him  (p.  155  f.,  Naber)  as  "  redundantem 
hominem "  whose  figures  "  eandem  sententiam  miliens  alio 
atque  alio  amictu  indutam  referunt."  Yet,  on  the  whole,  there 
is  sufficient  variety  to  prevent  monotony,  for  we  do  not  often 
find  the  same  figure  applied  again  to  a  given  subject  in  the 
same  way;  and  sufficient  good  taste  to  prevent  his  falling  into 
the  faults  of  "  verba  prisca  aut  ficta  .  .  .  et  translationes  in- 
probas  figurasque  dicendi  "  which  he  criticizes  in  Ep.  108,  35 
(cf.  Ep.  114,  10).  It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  he  is 
sometimes  guilty  of  an  awkward  mixing  of  metaphors,  as  in 
Ep.  12,  4  (potio)  quae  mergit,  quae  ebrietati  summam  manum 
inponit;  Ep.  59,  9  apertis  pectoribus  haurimus  (cf.  99,  5); 
Ep.  70,  4,  where,  after  a  beautiful  metaphorical  description 
commencing  with  "  praenavigavimus  vitam  "  in  sect.  2,  he  says 
"  alios  vita  velocissime  adduxit  .  .  .  alios  maceravit  et  coxit  " ; 
Ep.  95,  37  in  bonum  pronos  citius  educit  ad  summa;  and  Ep. 
108,  8  fundamenta  .  .  .  semenque  virtutum.  Other  passages 
which  are  open  to  criticism  on  the  same  score  are  Ep.  28,  7; 
33,  5;  74,  4;  95,  59  and  64;  104,  22;  and  111,  2  and  3. 

In  length,  his  tropes  and  similes  vary  from  single  words  to 
passages  extending  through  several  sections  of  the  text,  as 
Ep.  81,  7-11,  17-20,  26-29  and  the  whole  of  Ep.  119.  Ex- 
amples of  sustained  or  developed  metaphors  (in  addition  to 
those  already  given  to  illustrate  vividness  and  detail)  are:  Ep. 
1,  3-5  (time  as  a  debt  that  cannot  be  repaid)  ;  Ep.  12,  6 
('  orbits  7  of  periods  of  life)  ;  Ep.  19,  2-4  latebram  .  .  emineat 
.  .  appareat  .  .  per  obscurum  .  .  recondaris  .  .  tenebras  .  . 
lucis;  Ep.  21,  1  posita  .  .  pervenire  .  .  inpediat  .  .  relicturus 
.  .  transiturus  .  .  retinet  .  .  recessurus  .  .  casurum  .  .  ascen- 
ditur;  Ep.  21,  1-2  fulgor  .  .  fulgore  .  .  umbram  .  .  lumine 
inlustris  .  .  clarum;  (cf.  Ep.  93,  5  and  110,  6);  Ep.  22,  3 
inplicuisti,  solvas  .  .  abrumpas  .  .  solvendi  .  .  abrumpas  .  . 
pendere  .  .  cadere ;  Ep.  22,  8  aestus  .  .  volutabatur  .  .  referet 
pedem,  non  vertet  terga,  sed  sensim  recedet  in  tutum  .  .  evadere ; 


Conclusions  185 

Ep.  23,  5  temiem  .  .  perfusoriam  .  .  invecticium  .  .  funda- 
mento  caret  .  .  solidum ;  Ep.  23,  6-7  in  praecipiti  .  .  vergit  .  . 
modum  tenuit  .  .  subeat  .  .  tenore  .  .  viam  .  .  transiluit  .  . 
transmittuntur  .  .  suspensi  et  vagi;  Ep.  28,  9-10  deprehendas 
.  .  coargue,  inquire  in  .  .  accusatoris  .  .  iudicis  .  .  deprecato- 
ris;  Ep.  29,  10  pensionem  remisses  .  .  sordide  .  .  aeris  alieni 
.  .  debeo;  Ep.  30,  1  quassum  .  .  obluctantem  .  .  degravat  .  . 
attolli  .  .  pondere  incubuit ;  Ep.  30,  5  Bassus  noster  videbatur 
mihi  prosequi  se  et  conponere  et  vivere  tamquam  superstes 
sibi  et  sapienter  ferre  desiderium  sui ;  Ep.  33,  5  per  lineamenta 
sua  ingenii  opus  nectitur,  ex  quo  nihil  subduci  sine  ruina  potest ; 
Ep.  33,  7  fulcire  .  .  stare  .  .  innitatur;  Ep.  33,  10-11  sequi- 
tur  .  .  ibo  .  .  vestigia  .  .  via  .  .  propiorem  planioremque  .  . 
muniam  .  .  duces  .  .  patet  .  .  occupata ;  Ep.  37,  3-4  liber  .  . 
servilis  .  .  subiecta  .  .  dominos  .  .  imperantes  .  .  libertas  .  . 
subicere  .  .  reges ;  Ep.  39,  5-6  in  inmensum  .  .  modum  .  . 
finem  .  .  sine  termino  .  .  metitur  .  .  redigis;  Ep.  40,  7-8  ce- 
leritas  .  .  ponere  .  .  non  proicere,  et  pedetemptim  procedere 
.  .  velocitatem  .  .  vadentem;  Ep.  41,  9  trudimus  .  .  revocari 
.  .  retinet  .  .  inpellit;  Ep.  42,  7-9  gratuita  .  .  inpendimus 
.  .  emere  .  .  iactura  .  .  vilius  .  .  quanti  def eratur  .  .  preti- 
um  .  .  datur  .  .  incremento  .  .  iactura;  Ep.  49,  2-3  velocitas 
temporis  .  .  apparet  respicientibus  .  .  ad  praesentia  intentos 
.  .  praecipitis  fugae  transitus  .  .  transiit  .  .  loco  .  .  aspici- 
tur,  una  iacet  .  .  in  idem  profundum  cadunt;  Ep.  66,  23  hoc 
erit  ex  servorum  habitu  dominum  aestimare  .  .  dominium  .  . 
serva  .  .  possessionis  .  .  libera  et  invicta  .  .  premuntur;  Ep. 
69,  4  pretium  .  .  auctoramento  .  .  promittit  .  .  mercede  .  . 
gratis;  Ep.  71,  25-26  onera  rigida  cervice  sustollat,  qui  supra 
fortunam  existat  .  .  extolli  .  .  deprimuntur  .  .  stare  .  .  ia- 
cent  .  .  succidere  mentem  et  incurvari  et  succumbere  .  .  stat 
rectus  sub  quolibet  pondere  .  .  f  erenda  .  .  cadere  .  .  cecidisse 
.  .  vires  .  .  oneri  ferendo  (cf.  Ep.  76,  30;  78,  13;  and  102, 
24-26)  ;  Ep.  71,  35  labent  .  .  prodeant  .  .  sublabantur  aut 
succidant.  Sublabentur  .  .  ire  et  niti  .  .  retro  eundum  est 
.  .  nemo  prof ectum  ibi  invenit,  ubi  reliquerat.  Instemus ;  Ep. 


186  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

72,  9  deprimitur  .  .  extollitur  .  .  in  caelum  adlevatur  .  .  de- 
f ertur  ad  terram  .  .  praecipitationis  .  .  in  .  .  chaos  decidunt ; 
Ep.  72,  10-11  in  conspectu  .  .  concutiuntur  .  .  defluunt  .  . 
in  sicco  .  .  in  portu  .  .  fluctus;  Ep.  76,  32  (following  a  com- 
parison with  actors  and  costumes)  adornatus  .  .  nudum  in- 
spice:  ponat  .  .  exuat  .  .  intuere;  Ep.  77,  12-13  ibis  .  .  eunt 
.  .  trahit  .  .  sequetur  .  .  comitabitur  .  .  perventurum  .  . 
ibas?  Nullum  sine  exitu  iter  est  (cf.  Ep.  94,  50-51)  ;  Ep.  79, 
2  devoretur  .  .  exest  .  .  pascitur  .  .  alimentum;  Ep.  79,  12 
tenebris  .  .  visu  clara  prospexerit  .  .  diem  .  .  redditus  caelo 
(cf.  Ep.  102,  28)  ;  Ep.  80,  4-5  (slavery)  ;  Ep.  84,  5  apes  debe- 
mus  imitari,  etc. ;  Ep.  85,  32  (arts  as  servants ;  wisdom  as 
mistress)  ;  Ep.  88,  29  temperantia  .  .  imperat,  etc. ;  Ep.  91,  3 
inclinant  .  .  firmum  et  erectum  .  .  concussus  .  .  adgravant 
.  .  pondus ;  Ep.  92,  2  submittit  .  .  stat  .  .  summa  .  .  innixus 
.  .  sustinetur  .  .  cadere  .  .  constare;  Ep.  92,  23  decidere  .  . 
labi  .  .  subsistat  .  .  ad  imum  devolvi,  retinet  in  summo;  Ep. 

94,  29  diversis  locis  iacent  sparsa  .  .  contrahere  .  .  in  unum 
conferenda  sunt  et  iungenda;  Ep.  95,  17  febrium  .  .  impetu 
saevientium  .  .  repentium  .  .  venientium;   Ep.   95,   36  evase- 
runt  .  .  profectus  .  .  obsecuntur  .  .  in   transitu   rapuit;    Ep. 

95,  55   complectamur  .  .  adplicemus  .  .  innexae;   Ep.    99,   7 
spatii  .  .  currimus  .  .  comitatum  .  .  eodem   tendentis  .  .  in- 
tervallis    .    .    praemissus    .    .    iter  emetiendum  .  .  antecessit; 
Ep.    99,    9    lubricum  .  .  tempestate    mobilius.     lactantur  .  . 
transeunt  .  .  volutatione;  Ep.   100,   8    (of  the  style  of  Fabi- 
anus)    humilia  .  .  param   erecta  .  .  depressa  .  .  plana.     Ep. 
102,  27  corpus  inhabitatum  diu  pone:  scindetur,  obruetur,  abo- 
lebitur;    Ep.    104,    17    sequuntur  .  .  sequerentur  .  .  abessent 
.  .  fers  ilia,  non  ducis  .  .  premunt;  Ep.  107,  4-5  tiro  .  .  in 
nos   deriguntur  .  .  fixa  .  .  vibrant  .  .  veniunt  .  .  perventura 
.  .  stringunt;  Ep.  108,  27   (based  upon  Vergil's  "  f ugit  inre- 
parabile  tempus,"  G.  3,  284,  quoted  in  sect.  24)  temporis  per- 
nicissimi  celeritatem  .  .  retinere  .  .  relicti  .  .  quod  fugit  oc- 
cupandum  est;  Ep  110.  3-4  gradum  sibi  struxit  in  praeceps  .  . 
eminentem     adlevavit  .  .  staret  .  .  cadunt  .  .  cadere  .  .  exi- 


Conclusions  187 

turn  spectes,  ultra  quern  .  .  deiecit;  Ep.  114,  23-24  (the  mind 
as  king,  or  tyrant)  ;  Ep.  115,  2  oratio  cultus  animi  est  .  .  cir- 
cumtonsa  .  .  fucata  et  manu  facta  .  .  ornamentum;  Ep.  115, 
3-7  (developing  the  metaphor  "  animum  boni  viri  .  .  inspi- 
cere ")  ;  118,  1  exigis  .  .  rationes  conferamus:  solvendo  .  . 
convenerat  .  .  dimcilis :  bene  credi  .  .  in  anticessum  dabo ;  Ep. 
118,  6  excelsa  .  .  iaces  .  .  pervenit,  humilia  .  .  escendere  .  . 
summum,  gradus;  Ep.  120,  22  agere  .  .  multiformes  .  .  per- 
sonam  .  .  exuimus  .  .  praestare  .  .  exitum. 

Somewhat  akin  to  this  are  the  cases  where  Seneca  resumes 
a  figure  which  he  has  employed  in  an  earlier  part  of  the  dis- 
cussion. The  most  striking  instance  of  this  is  in  the  letters  of 
the  first  three  Books.  Starting  with  the  word  lucellum  in  Ep. 
5,  7,  he  whimsically  assumes  that  the  moral  precept  or  quota- 
tion with  which  he  concludes  these  letters  is  a  "  debt  "  which  he 
owes  to  his  correspondent,  and  he  rings  a  surprising  variety  of 
changes  on  this  metaphor.  The  examples  are:  Ep.  5,  7;  6,  7; 
7,  10 ;  8,  7  and  10 ;  10,  5 ;  12,  10 ;  14,  17 ;  15,  9  ;  16,  7 ;  17,  11 ; 
18,  14 ;  19,  10 ;  20,  9  ;  21,  7 ;  22,  13  ;  23,  9  ;  26,  8  ;  27,  9  ;  28,  9  ; 
and  29,  10.  This  feature  is  further  exemplified  in  such  pas- 
sages as  Ep.  26,  4  laturus  sententiam,  5  iudicaturus  sum,  6 
mors  de  te  pronuntiatura  est  .  .  indicium ;  cf .  Ep.  124,  2 
iudicant  .  .  iudicarent,  3  iudicibus  .  .  arbitrium,  4  constituit 
.  .  sententia  .  .  pronuntiet,  5  iudicat;  Ep.  33,  1  inaequalita- 
tem  .  .  eminent,  4  eminere  .  .  inter  paria;  Ep.  33,  7  sub  alio 
moveris  ?  Impera,  8  respicere  ad  magistrum,  10  tutelae  suae 
fiunt,  11  non  domini;  Ep.  65,  3,  5-8,  13,  17  (artist  and  statue, 
to  illustrate  difference  between  "cause  "  and  "  material  ")  ;  Ep. 
74,  19  muniendi  etc.,  22  munitio;  Ep.  76,  31  (comparison 
with  actors),  32  adornatus,  etc.;  Ep.  77,  3-4  viatici  quam  viae 
.  .  viam  .  .  peragere  .  .  iter  .  .  desines  .  .  desinendum,  12- 
13  ibis  etc.;  Ep.  81,  7-11,  17-20,  26-29  ('paying  debts7); 
Ep.  84,  1  alit  lectio  ingenium,  resumed  and  expanded  in  sect. 
6-7;  Ep.  84,  3  ('  imitate  the  bees'),  resumed  in  sect.  5;  Ep. 
85,  8  (taming  the  affections  and  vices  compared  to  taming  wild 
animals),  resumed,  with  slightly  different  application,  in  sect. 


188  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

41 ;  Ep.  92,  5,  '  external  benefits  are  like  a  spark  compared  with 
the  sun/  resumed  with  more  detail  in  sect.  17-18 ;  Ep.  95,  12 
praecepta  .  .  sine  radice,  59  (simile  with  leaves),  64  (im- 
plied comparison  with  branches)  ;  Ep.  100,  1  effundi  verba, 
carried  through  sect.  2,  resumed  in  sect.  10;  Ep.  102,  23  and 
26-27  (preparation  for  higher  existence  compared  to  parturi- 
tion) ;  Ep.  108,  6  and  8-9  (going  to  a  philosopher  compared 
to  going  to  the  theatre)  ;  Ep.  122,  3  and  10  (comparison  of 
nocturnal  revels  to  a  funeral)  ;  Ep.  124,  8  (comparison  of  an 
infant  to  a  tree  or  an  animal),  resumed  in  sect.  13. 

Finally,  we  may  mention  the  following  characteristics: 
(1)  Massing  of  several  metaphors  or  comparisons  on  the 
same  theme.  Examples  of  this  are :  Ep.  1,  1  tempus  .  .  auf ere- 
batur  aut  subripiebatur  aut  excidebat,  collige  et  serva  .  . 
tempora  eripiuntur  .  .  subducuntur  .  .  effluunt;  Ep.  2,  3 
(discursive  reading  compared  to  travel,  food,  medicine,  healing 
a  wound,  a  plant)  ;  Ep.  16,  3  philosophia  .  .  adhibetur  .  .  ut 
dematur  otio  nausia  .  .  format  et  fabricat  .  .  disponit  .  . 
regit  .  .  demonstrat,  sedet  ad  gubernaculum  .  .  derigit  cur- 
sum;  Ep.  33,  where  the  whole  letter  is  a  series  of  figures  to 
illustrate  and  support  the  proposition  that  the  Epicurean  writ- 
ings are  not  superior  to  those  of  the  Stoics  because  of  the  fact 
that  they  are  better  adapted  for  quotation;  Ep.  66,  42-43, 
where  the  idea  of  death  is  variously  expressed  by  decessit,  mors 
.  .  praecidit  .  .  interrupit,  solutus  est,  continuata  mors  somno 
est,  extinxit,  exanimatos,  extortos,  exitus,  desinunt;  Ep.  71,  2-3 
(the  necessity  of  having  a  definite  plan  in  life  illustrated  by 
comparison  with  the  painter,  the  archer,  and  the  sailor)  ;  Ep. 
71,  12-14  (the  alteration  in  the  character  of  the  Roman  State 
compared  to  the  changes  of  the  earth,  the  sky,  the  universe,  the 
heavenly  bodies,  and  the  human  race)  ;  Ep.  76,  8-9  (man  com- 
pared to  a  vine,  a  deer,  beasts  of  burden,  a  dog,  lions,  peacocks, 
and  horses),  cf.  Ep.  79,  8-9;  90,  4;  and  124,  10-11;  Ep.  91, 
9-10,  where  a  number  of  different  metaphorical  phrases  are 
applied  to  the  destruction  of  cities;  Ep.  97,  10-11  (the  art  of 
living  contrasted  with  that  of  the  pilot,  the  physician,  and  the 


Conclusions  189 

orator).  Other  instances  may  be  seen  in  Ep.  9,  7;  41,  6;  66, 
26-27;  80,  7-9;  84,  3-10;  94,  5-6;  95,  3;  117,  17;  117,  26; 
118,  14-17. 

(2)  Combination    of   metaphor    and    comparison,   the    one 
leading  to  the  other,  or  interwoven.     Comparison  is  followed 
by  metaphor  in  Ep.  2,  4 ;  7,  1 ;  9,  5 ;  13,  2-3 ;  28,  6 ;  40,  7 ; 
41,  5-6  ;  48,  10  ;  49,  8-9  ;  51,  13  ;  53,  7-8  ;  58,  32-33  ;  65,  16 ;  66, 
20;  66,  23;  71,  3;  71,  19-20;  71,  24;  71,  31;  72,  8  (quoted 
from  Attains)  ;  74,  5 ;  74,  19 ;  74,  33 ;  76,  31 ;  79,  11-12  ;  84, 
3-5;  84,  10;  88,  7;  88,  9;  93,  4;  94,  38;  96,  2;  99,  29;  102, 
1-2;  102,  24-26;  104,  18;  114,  22;  123,  14.     Metaphor  is  fol- 
lowed by  comparison  in  Ep.  13,  8;  18,  15;  33,  1;  52,  4;  66, 
20 ;  66,  52 ;  73,  16 ;  79,  13 ;  89,  19.     Examples  of  metaphor 
and  comparison  alternating  or  interwoven  are :  Ep.  1,  3-5 ;  8, 
2;  21,  1-2;  32,  3;  37,  1-2;  42,  7-9;  50,  9;  66,  26-27;  70,  2-4; 
74,  7-10;  75,  6-7;  77,  3-4;  78,  3;  80,  4-5;  80,  7-9;  85,  8;  89, 
1-2;  92,  17-18;  95,  12,  59  and  64;  95,  67-71;  111,  2-3;  115, 
3-7 ;  118,  2-4. 

(3)  Revitalizing  of  trite  metaphors,   as:  Ep.   8,  2    (salu- 
tares)  ;  Ep.  11,  10  (rigidus,  remissions),  cf.  81,  4;  Ep.  11,  10 
ad  regulam  prava  non  corriges;  cf.  20,  3;  95,  59;  and  98,  3; 
Ep.  15,  9  caeca  cupiditas  .  .  praecipitat;  Ep.   18,   15   (exar- 
descere)  ;  Ep.  19,  6  (iugo)  ;  Ep.  19,  7  (implebunt)  ;  Ep.  19, 
12    (beneficia)    conlocata,   non   sparsa;   Ep.    21,    11    (debes) ; 
Ep.  22,  7  (oneri)  ;  cf.  92,  16  and  33 ;  Ep.  25,  1  (duram)  ;  Ep. 
33,  1   (inaequalitatem,  eminent),  followed  by  comparison  with 
a  forest,  cf .  sect.  4  quocumque  miseris  oculum,  etc. ;  Ep.  34,  2 
ego  quom  vidissem  indolent  tuam,   inieci  manum,   exhortatus 
sum,  addidi  stimulos  nee  lente  ire  passus  sum,  sed  subinde  inci- 
tavi:  et  nunc  idem  facio,  sed  iam  currentem  hortor;  Ep.   35, 
4   natare  .  .  prout   tulit  ventus;   Ep.   42,    5   meministi,   cum 
quendam  adfirmares  esse  in  tua  potestate  dixisse  me  volaticum 
esse  ac  levem  et  te  non  pedem  eius  tenere,  sed  pennam.     Menti- 
tus  sum?     Pluma  tenebatur,  quam  remisit  et  fugit;  Ep.  45,  5 
nectimus  nodos  et  ambiguam  significationem  verbis  inligamus 
ac  deinde  dissolvimus;  Ep.  50,  6  (obsequens),  cf.  95,  4;  Ep. 


190  Metaphor  and  Comparison  in  Seneca 

52,  1-2  (fluctuamur)  ;  Ep.  52,  6  non  perduxit,  sed  extraxit; 
cf.  70,  19 ;  Ep.  58,  1  verborum  .  .  paupertas,  immo  egestas  .  . 
in  egestate  fastidium;  Ep.  65,  15  (fer  sententiam)  ;  Ep.  66, 
2  (rectus)  ;  cf.  88,  13 ;  Ep.  66,  42  (mors)  vitam  .  .  in  medio 
flore  praecidit ;  Ep.  72,  4  (domestica)  ;  Ep.  78,  27  (inma- 
tura)  ;  cf.  98,  11;  Ep.  79,  18  tenue  est  mendacium :  perlucet, 
si  diligenter  inspexeris;  Ep.  80,  1  (impediet)  ;  Ep.  81,  2  (cer- 
tam  manum)  ;  Ep.  82,  20  (volvuntur,  solvere)  ;  Ep.  84,  13 
confragosa  in  fastigium  dignitatis  via  est;  Ep.  88,  3  (circa, 
latins,  longissime)  Ep.  88,  9  (consonet,  discrepent)  ;  Ep.  89, 
1  (corpus,  membra)  ;  cf.  95,  52 ;  Ep.  90,  34  (investigaverit)  ; 
Ep.  93,  8  (amplissimum)  ;  Ep.  94,  23  (frenos)  ;  Ep.  94,  56 
(calcandnm) ;  Ep.  95,  1  (diem  suum)  ;  Ep.  95,  43  (of  a 
legacy  hunter)  vultur  est,  cadaver  expectat;  Ep.  98,  1  (adven- 
ticio)  ;  Ep.  99,  3  (solida,  umbras)  ;  Ep.  100,  2  non  effundere 
videtur  orationem,  sed  fundere  .  .  sine  perturbatione,  non  sine 
cursu  tamen  veniens;  cf.  sect.  10  (oratio)  non  est  violenta  nee 
torrens;  quamvis  effusa  sit;  non  est  perspicua,  sed  pura;  Ep. 
100,  7  (compositio)  salebrosa  et  exiliens;  Ep.  104,  22  huius 
vitae  fluctuantis  et  turbidae  portus;  Ep.  109,  16  videre  .  . 
excaecat  .  .  dispectum  .  .  vident;  cf.  102,  28  (caligo,  etc.); 
Ep.  110,  3  (contingere,  accidere)  ;  Ep.  115,  18  solidam  felici- 
tatem,  quam  tempestas  nulla  concutiat;  Ep.  116,  2  da  ius 
lacrimis  tarn  iuste  cadentibus;  Ep.  120,  22  infra  humilitatem 
vere  iacentium;  Ep.  124,  4  sensus,  obtunsa  res  et  hebes. 

In  conclusion  I  would  claim  that  the  results  of  our  investi- 
gation amply  support  the  truth  of  the  statement  made  in 
the  Introductory  Remarks,  that  much  light  can  be  thrown 
upon  Latin  style  and  phraseology  in  general  by  a  thorough 
study  of  the  figurative  language  of  individual  authors;  and 
that  prose  writers  as  well  as  poets  should  be  included  in  such 
a  study. 


LIFE 


Charles  Sidney  Smith  was  born  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  on 
the  21st  day  of  July,  1867.  He  took  the  regular  academic 
course  at  Princeton  University,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  June,  1888,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  and  in  1891  received 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  the  same  institution,  after  having 
passed  two  more  years  in  graduate  work  there  under  Professors 
Packard,  Winans,  Orris  and  West. 

He  was  for  a  year  assistant  master  of  the  Dupuy  School  in 
Trenton,  1ST.  J.,  and  was  then  appointed  instructor  in  Latin  in 
Princeton  University,  which  position  he  held  from  September, 
1891,  to  June,  1897. 

The  academic  year  of  1897-8  was  spent  by  him  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Leipsic,  where  he  attended  the  lectures  of  Professors 
Eibbeck,  Wachsmuth,  Lipsius,  Gardthausen,  Brugmann,  Sie- 
vers,  and  Windisch;  and,  on  returning  to  America,  in  the  fall 
of  1898,  he  entered  the  Johns  Hopkins  University  as  a  gradu- 
ate student,  with  Latin  as  his  principal  subject  and  Greek  and 
Sanskrit  as  his  subordinate  subjects.  He  attended  the  courses 
given  by  Professors  Warren,  Gildersleeve,  Bloomfield,  Smith, 
Miller,  and  Wilson,  and  the  lectures  on  archaeology  and  art  by 
Dr.  Mitchell  Carroll  (now  Professor  of  Classical  Languages  at 
the  George  Washington  University).  He  was  appointed  to  a 
university  fellowship  for  the  year  1900-1901,  but  resigned  in 
order  to  accept  the  position  of  assistant  professor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  in  the  George  Washington  University  and  was  promoted 
to  a  full  professorship  in  1907,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
In  the  fall  of  1905,  however,  he  obtained  a  year's  leave  of 
absence  in  order  to  devote  that  time  to  further  study  at  the 
Johns  Hopkins  University. 

He  wishes  to  acknowledge  his  great  indebtedness  to  all  those 
who  have  directed  his  studies;  but  especially  desires  to  make 

191 


192  Life 

mention  of  his  deep  obligations  to  Professors  Kirby  F.  Smith 
and  Basil  L.  Gildersleeve,  and  the  late  Professor  Minton  War- 
ren, who  have  been  to  him  not  only  teachers  but  friends,  whose 
high  scholarship  has  been  a  constant  inspiration  to  his  own 
efforts  and  an  ideal  for  his  ambitions,  and  whose  unfailing 
kindness  and  assistance  have  been  invaluable  to  him  and  have 
merited  a  gratitude  which,  while  it  cannot  be  adequately  ex- 
pressed, will  never  be  forgotten.  Of  each  he  would  say,  in  the 
words  of  Seneca  (Ben.  2,  24,  4),  "  Numquam  tibi  referre  gra- 
tiam  potero ;  illud  certe  non  desinam  ubique  confiteri  me  referre 
non  posse." 


^15-65-9 


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